NLS: Talking Book Topics

by Alan Taylor

read by Dan Bloom

5 cassettes

portrays the life of wealthy land speculator and politician William Cooper, who rose from humble origins to prominence as the founder of Cooperstown, New York. The spectacular rise and later decline of Cooper's fortunes inspired the writings of his author son, James Fenimore Cooper. Winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize. 1995.

by Jessica Mitford

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

In this revision of 1963's The American Way of Death (RC 21457), the author examines corruption in the funeral industry. Presents the large chains and the myths they propagate to obtain wealth. Discusses the history of funerals, cremation, and the role of the Federal Trade Commission. Includes a directory of nonprofit funeral and memorial societies by state. 1998.

by Eamon Duffy

read by Don Feldheim

5 cassettes

Overview of the papacy from Saint Peter to Pope John Paul II. Traces the evolution of the institution, its influence in history, and the political and spiritual power of the office. Includes a glossary and chronological list of popes. 1997.

by Richard Fletcher

read by Nanette Savard

5 cassettes

History of Christianity from its inception in the Mediterranean world of the Roman Empire to its spread across Europe. Explains how it carried Roman and Mediterranean customs and values to northwestern Europe. Asserts the ensuing merger of Christian and "barbarian" concepts founded a new civilization. 1997.

by Victor Klemperer

read by Michael Consoli

5 cassettes

Klemperer, a professor of Romance languages in Dresden, presents portions of the diaries he kept in his youth. Chronicles everyday life in Nazi Germany, where--even after his conversion and marriage to a Protestant--government restrictions slowly stifled his life. Describes the kindness of some Germans and being saved by the bombing of Dresden. 1998.

edited by Daryl Cumber Dance

read by Samarra Mbenga

5 cassettes

Assemblage of wit and wisdom from various types of written and oral tradition, spanning genres from poetry to political commentaries. Relays anecdotes from personal experiences as well as fiction. Includes works of Bessie Smith, Maya Angelou, and Terry McMillan. Foreword by Nikki Giovanni. Some strong language. 1998.

by Michael Kort

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

Introduces the history of Russia, including its political upheavals and economic development and the impact of its transition to a free-market system on its people and future. Also contains a chronology. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Stephen J. May

read by Michael Russotto

2 cassettes

Biography of the popular author discusses how he spent his youth fishing and hunting near Zanesville, Ohio, a town named after his pioneer ancestor. Grey became a dentist at his father's insistence but later returned to his love of writing. Tells how Riders of the Purple Sage (RC 17362) became his first bestseller in 1912..Bestseller1997.

by John A. Jackson

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Chronicles the career of Dick Clark from a little-known radio disc jockey to the host of the national teen dance show American Bandstand. Explores Clark's nonstop pursuit of wealth, his escape from the 1959 payola scandal, and his business affairs after the popularity of the show decreased. 1997.

by Matt O'Meilia

read by Don Emmick

1 cassette

Former drummer in a band called Santa Fe describes the early career of the group's country western singer. O'Meilia recalls meeting Garth Brooks in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1986, appearing with him during the next year, and being impressed with the singer's determination to succeed even after a series of failures. Some strong language. 1997.

by David K. Shipler

read by Bob Moore

5 cassettes

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Shipler examines attitudes toward race relations in America. Explores how blacks and whites view each other, how perceptions are shaped from birth, and how interpretations of others' behavior are often based on prior assumptions, even among unbiased individuals. Also considers multiracial families and religious minorities and their reactions to social stereotypes. 1997.

by Stephen Howarth

read by Ted Stoddard

5 cassettes

A history of the United States Navy from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf conflict. Includes discussion of naval adventures, strategic development, and technology as well as the relationship between the armed service and the American public. 1999.

by John J. Pershing

read by Robert Sams

6 cassettes

Then General of the Armies chronicles the United States's involvement in the "Great War" from Woodrow Wilson's 1917 appointment of Pershing to command the American Expeditionary Forces in France through the armistice in 1918. Won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for history under the title My Experiences in the World War. 1931.

compiled by Leo Rosten

read by Terence Aselford

3 cassettes

Over 5,000 items to tickle your funny bone. 1994.

by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

read by Ken Kliban

6 cassettes (Reissue)

A scathing portrayal of the Soviet prison system drawn from eyewitness accounts and the Nobel Prize winner's own recollection of his eleven-year internment in the Archipelago. Prequel to The Gulag...Volume 2, Parts 3-4 (RC 49270). Bestseller 1973.

by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn

read by Ken Kliban

6 cassettes (Reissue)

Indictment of totalitarian society by the Nobel Prize-winning author who was deported from the Soviet Union in 1974. Sequel to The Gulag...Volume 1, Parts 1-2 (RC 49269). 1975.

by Thomas Merton

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

In these diaries the monk and author chronicles the years during which he struggled to reconcile his life of contemplation with his interest in the reform movements of the church and society. As Merton pondered the "absurdity" of worldly concerns, he continued to enjoy "dancing in the water of life." 1997.

by Will Shortz

read by Timothy Lynch

1 cassette

Audio puzzles from National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday. Includes word games that take some thought. For example, "change one letter in each word to name a color" and "every answer in this puzzle is a word or name that ends in the letters que." 1996.

by Daniel J. Boorstin

read by Robert Sams

7 cassettes in 2 containers

In this sequel to The Americans: The National Experience (RC 47247), historian Boorstin covers American history since the Civil War. He discusses how Americans found a new way of holding together through "countless little-noticed revolutions" that created "communities of consumers" touching countrymen everywhere and every day in their new democratic world. 1973.

by Lewis Sorley

read by Laura Giannarelli

3 cassettes

Recounts the latter half of the Vietnam War, after General Creighton Abrams assumed command in 1968. Describes how Abrams abandoned the prevailing strategy of attrition in favor of protecting the South Vietnamese and bolstering their military. Asserts that America had the war won by late 1971 but failed to secure the advantage. 1999.

edited by Stewart O'Nan

read by Steven Carpenter

4 cassettes

Depicts the American war in Vietnam through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, descriptions of films, and popular song lyrics. Collected works provide a historical reference tool and overview of the conflict and its impact on American culture. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Stacy Schiff

read by Michael Scherer

4 cassettes

The biography of Véra is largely the portrait of her fifty-two-year literary marriage with Russian author Vladimir Nabokov. Relates the main events of their relationship where she was wife, muse, editor, translator, and publishing agent. Notes her lifelong devotion to her husband's work and her preference for privacy. Pulitzer Prize. 1999.

by Larry McMurtry

read by Arnie Warren

1 cassette

Reading Benjamin's essay "The Storyteller" leads McMurtry to reflect on the decline of oral tradition in twentieth-century life. He discusses his experiences with books--as a reader, author, and bookdealer--and his feelings about his ancestors, his open-heart surgery, cowboys, and the open spaces of Texas. 1999.

by Doris Cross

read by Miriam Wagner

1 cassette

Recipes by an author who had written about low-fat cookery before she was diagnosed with diabetes. In this volume, she modifies her favorites to accommodate her condition and still satisfy her family. Includes some 170 foods from appetizers to desserts. 1997.

by Mark Twain

read by Anne Hancock

3 cassettes

Mark Twain constructs a tour through Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. Integrates humor, autobiography, and history to entertain. 1880.

by Sven Birkerts

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

Essays exploring ways in which modern information technologies are fundamentally transforming both traditional literary culture and the general practice of reading and writing. Attests to the essential value of literature and laments its displacement by the pervasive electronic media. 1994.

by Eric Black

read by Dan Bloom

1 cassette

Examines the history and culture of the former country of Yugoslavia in order to make sense of the 1990s conflicts there, some of which involved "ethnic cleansing." Discusses opposing viewpoints among its residents and assesses future prospects for the area. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Pete Goss

read by Jeremy Gage

2 cassettes

Former Royal Marine describes his work toward the goal of sailing in the Vendée Globe, a single-handed round-the-world race. During the realization of his dream, Goss risks both the race and his own life by heroically saving a fellow competitor whose boat sank in a storm. Strong language. 1998.

by Michael McCall

read by Mary Ann Nichols

1 cassette

Biography of the Canadian country-pop singer-songwriter who, after an unspectacular 1993 debut album, gained widespread fame and awards with her second album, which was expensively produced by her now-husband Robert Lange. Details such controversies as the dismissal of her manager and Twain's initial claim of being Native American. 1999.

by Gina Kolata

read by Kimberly Schraf

3 cassettes

A science reporter for the New York Times describes how a mysterious virus, nicknamed the "Spanish flu," killed 20-100 million people worldwide, leaving no clue to its origins. Striking during wartime in 1918, the epidemic affected young adults disproportionately. Discusses other historic plagues and the possibility of future pandemic scourges. 1999.

by Robert Serber

read by Terence Aselford

2 cassettes

Memoir of a key member of the Manhattan Project scientific team, who assembled the bombs that were dropped on Japan in 1945. Recounts the development and testing of the atomic bomb, its use and effects on the Japanese population, and the postwar controversy that surrounded this revolutionary weapon of war. 1998.

by Robertson Davies

read by Michael Scherer

3 cassettes

Thirty-three pieces on the theater, opera, and music. Includes speeches, prologs to plays, articles, a discussion of folk song, a ghost story set to music, and ideas for a film scenario. Also contains selections from Davies's theater diaries going behind the scenes. 1997.

by Kay Redfield Jamison

read by Barbara Pinolini

2 cassettes

Examines the cultural history of suicide, biological and psychological factors, and effects on survivors. Focuses on victims younger than forty. Includes case studies, literary quotations, and insights from the author's personal experience. Proposes ways in which society could address this increasingly prevalent problem. 1999.

by Allison Lassieur

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Based on archaeologic and ethnographic evidence, an account of the people living in North America prior to 1492. Presented by geographic area, describes what is known about the lives of the inhabitants, including their villages, foods, and societies. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

by Ann Blackman

read by Barbara Rappaport

3 cassettes

A personal profile of the secretary of state under President Bill Clinton. Albright was born to a diplomat in Czechoslovakia whose family twice fled to avoid persecution--first from the Nazis and later from the Communists. Traces her family history, including her discovery that her grandparents perished in the Holocaust. 1998.

by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac

read by Ralph Lowenstein

5 cassettes

The authors chronicle the struggle between Great Britain and Russia over control of central Asia, beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing through the cold war. They examine the activities of adventurers, explorers, and statesmen in Tibet, Lhasa, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas, who spied for their respective countries. 1999.

edited by Paul A. Winters

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

Examines a range of perspectives and opinions on topics related to the end of life. Presents opposing outlooks on such issues as physician-assisted suicide, near-death experiences, and grief. Challenges readers to confront and understand conflicting points of view. For senior high and older readers. 1998.

by Charles C. Osborne

read by Michael Scherer

4 cassettes

Biography of Confederate general Jubal Early, concentrating on his military exploits and his rejection of reconstruction and amnesty after the Civil War. Discusses Early's personal eccentricity, his refusal to accept blame for military blunders, and his later success in promoting the myth of the "lost cause." 1992.

by Michael Fumento

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

An overview of obesity, "the most common chronic health problem in America," affecting one-third of all adults. Examines the causes and consequences of excess body weight, debunks many popular fad diets, and denounces pro-obesity movements. Urges a commonsense approach to weight control: eat wisely and exercise. 1997.

by James A. Ramage

read by Michael Russotto

4 cassettes

Biography of Confederate colonel John Singleton Mosby, who led the 43rd Battalion Virginia Partisan Rangers in guerrilla operations against Union forces in northern Virginia. Mosby, who had no military training, specialized in night raids aimed at disrupting enemy battle plans and supply trains. 1999.

by Thomas Y. Canby

read by Gregory Gorton

2 cassettes

Memoir of a career as a National Geographic writer and science editor. Describes behind-the-scenes work at headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Canby started in 1961, and recounts some of his adventures and misadventures as a world traveler on assignment. 1998.

by Victoria Price

read by Mary Kane

4 cassettes

Biography of Renaissance man Vincent Price by his daughter. Traces the family history, Price's childhood in St. Louis, his time at Yale University, and his career in theater and later Hollywood. Discusses his "greylisting" during the McCarthy period and his passion for art, as well as his children and multiple marriages. 1999.

by Don Nardo

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Describes the three wars between Rome and Carthage during the third and second centuries B.C., which took a devastating toll on resources and manpower and ended in total annihilation of one of the powers. Includes Hannibal's crossing of the Alps in 218 B.C. For senior high and older readers. 1996.

by Pliny the Elder

read by Gordon Gould

4 cassettes

An encyclopedic overview of Roman scientific understanding during the first century A.D. By the author's estimate, this work presents some two hundred thousand facts about astronomy, geography, zoology, botany, medicine, art, and architecture. Discussions are enlivened with anecdotes and personal commentary. 1991.

by Michele Zackheim

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

On the basis of the revelation in the 1980s that Albert Einstein and his Serbian first wife, Mileva, had an illegitimate daughter, Lieserl, born in 1902, the author spent five years tracking down clues to determine what became of her. Zackheim presents her findings and conclusion. 1999.

by Dave Eggers

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

An unconventional first-person account of a young man who takes on the responsibility of raising his eight-year-old brother, Toph, after both parents die of cancer. Amid frequent digressions, the author recalls their family dynamics, his aspirations to become a writer, and an experimental 'zine, Might. Strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Philip B. Kunhardt and others

read by Rick Foucheux

4 cassettes

Companion to a PBS television series; a survey of U.S. presidents using a thematic, rather than chronological, approach. In ten chapters, the chief executives are grouped by campaign style, challenges faced, or other circumstances that shaped their public image. Different historical periods are represented in each category. 1999.

edited by Stanley Rosen

read by Annie Wauters

5 cassettes

Representative texts by major philosophers grouped into six categories: social and political thought, religion, art and culture, metaphysics, epistemology, and science. Each section is prefaced with an introduction to the topic. Includes excerpts from works by Aristotle, Hobbes, Augustine, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Hegel, Wittgenstein, Descartes, Kuhn, and Ayala, among others. 2000.

by Jan Jarboe Russell

read by Jill Ferris

3 cassettes

portrait of a first lady. Examines how marriage to Lyndon Baines Johnson defined her. Discusses Mrs. Johnson's family background and her roles as wife, mother, businesswoman, and conservationist. Also relates LBJ's marital infidelities and Lady Bird's reactions to them. 1999.

by Lucy Moore

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Eighteenth-century London. Two notorious criminals operate in the seamy underground of the capital: Jonathan Wild is the "thief-taker general," whose criminal organization colludes with the corrupt police, while Jack Sheppard is a freelance robber who becomes infamous for his prison escapes and daring crimes. Some violence. 1997.

by Siri Hustvedt

read by Catherine Byers

1 cassette

Six pieces by a Norwegian American novelist and poet contemplating a variety of aesthetic experiences. Reveals her thought processes while actively exploring such activities as forming memories, viewing a painting, and reading literature. 1998.

by Boy Scouts of America

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

Handbook for advisors and youth leaders of Explorer Scouts. Describes the role of an advisor to an Explorer post in setting up the post and training the youth leaders. Discusses the nature of Exploring and the responsibilities of officers, and tells how to plan and conduct a successful meeting. 1991.

by Shirley Abbott

read by Faith Potts

2 cassettes

A woman's memoir of her introduction to the world of romance, love, and sex. Chronicles the influence of movies and literature on her early development, her sensual involvement with a college roommate, her year abroad in Paris, her marriage, and the experience of becoming a mother. Some strong language. 1998.

by Mike Lupica

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Sportswriter and his three sons eagerly follow the amazing 1998 baseball season, which included the McGwire-Sosa home run duel, David Wells's perfect game, the end of Cal Ripken's streak, and the New York Yankees' World Series victory. 1999.

by Richard Patterson

read by Rick Foucheux

3 cassettes

Separates the reality from the myths about the legendary outlaw. Contrasts his Mormon family background with his long criminal record, detailing his years with the Wild Bunch and the Sundance Kid. Discusses Butch Cassidy's supposed reappearance in the United States after the shoot-out in Boliva. 1998.

by Albert Fried

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Depicts Franklin Roosevelt's struggles to protect his progressive presidency against challenges from five powerful rivals: New York governor Al Smith, radio priest Charles Coughlin, Louisiana senator Huey Long, aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, and labor leader John L. Lewis. Avers that FDR prevailed because he better understood the needs of the American people. 1999.

by Gregory Dicum and Nina Luttinger

read by Michael Consoli

2 cassettes

Examines the coffee industry, from the beverage's origins up through the specialty coffee craze. Discusses aspects such as caffeine addiction, marketing techniques, working conditions for coffee farmers, and international trade. 1999.

by Boy Scouts of America

read by Mark Ashby

1 cassette

Qualifications and responsibilities for the adult leader of Boy Scouts ages fourteen through seventeen. Explains the program and planning objectives, discusses leadership and age-appropriate behavior, and provides a parent's guide to protecting offspring from child abuse. 1996.

by Jean Strouse

read by Lou Harpenau

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Biography of the powerful capitalist banker of the Gilded Age, who transformed the United States from an agrarian society into a powerful industrial state. Relates how Pierpont Morgan financed the robber barons and rescued the country from the panic of 1901, while amassing a huge personal art collection. 1999.

by William J. Bennett and others

read by Butch Hoover

5 cassettes

Maintaining that the years before high school are the most important for basic learning, the authors describe areas within core subjects that a pupil should master at each age. Suggests ways for parents to stay involved in their children's progress and to ensure they are receiving a good education. 1999.

by William L. O'Neill

read by Barry Bernson

4 cassettes (Reissue)

A journalistic survey dealing with foreign relations, domestic politics, and the counterculture in the early 1960s. Though the emphasis is on political rather than cultural history, sports and pop entertainment are included. 1971.

by Cheryl Mendelson

read by Kerry Cundiff

10 cassettes in 2 containers

Helpful hints on a range of domestic topics--planning and preparing meals, doing laundry, cleaning each room in a home, preserving books and furniture, caring for pets, fire safety, and many others. Includes guidelines for both the novice and longtime housekeeper and bits of wisdom gained from older relatives. Bestseller 1999.

by Angela Carter

read by Jill Fox

6 cassettes

A substantial selection of Carter's journalism--articles, criticism, personal essays, and reviews--from the 1960s until her death in 1992. These cultural and social commentaries are grouped under broad categories: body languages, food fetishes, home and away, traveling, Japan, America, screen and dream, stories and tellers, writers and readers. Some strong language. 1997.

by Thomas J. Stanley

read by Ralph Lowenstein

3 cassettes

In this companion to The Millionaire Next Door (RC 43944) the author explores people with a "millionaire mind-set"--those who focus upon accumulating wealth. His nationwide survey examines such factors as academic performance, career selection, family and social relationships, lifestyle, and the ability to conquer fear. Bestseller 2000.

by Brian Fagan

read by Ralph Lowenstein

2 cassettes

Investigates the connection between deadly weather phenomena and anthropology. Discusses the historical impact of methods used by various ancient civilizations to adapt to stressful climatic changes. Describes monsoons in India; famines in ancient Egypt; droughts in the American Southwest, which destroyed the Anasazi; and "El Niño," which has serious effects worldwide. 1999.

by Simon Singh

read by Dennis Rooney

3 cassettes

Charts the history of ciphers and the ongoing battle between codemakers and codebreakers, which has spurred corresponding technological development. Relates tales of political intrigue and historical turning points in which codes played a role. Also discusses the continuing importance of encryption in the digital world. 1999.

by Joanie Greggains

read by Nona Pipes

2 cassettes

Host of television and radio fitness shows stresses substituting smart choices for bad habits--making positive lifestyle choices every day. She provides commonsense instructions on how to eat right and exercise enough, warning against fad diets and other fitness gimmicks. 2000.

by Jeffrey Toobin

read by Michael Russotto

4 cassettes

A behind-the-scenes account of the scandals surrounding President Bill Clinton. Toobin examines the Paula Jones case, Kenneth Starr's investigations, and the president's relationship with Monica Lewinsky in detail. He concludes that "Clinton was, by comparison, the good guy in this struggle," the victim of powerful forces from the right. Some strong language. Bestseller 1999.

by William H. Bartsch

read by Steven Carpenter

4 cassettes

A history of the 24th Pursuit Group squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps, which was stationed in the Philippines when World War II broke out. Chronicles the destruction of the American-Philippine Army on Bataan and Corregidor after five months of fighting. Describes the pilots' heroism along with their fates. 1992.

by Jane Brox

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

The author depicts the lives of her parents and Lebanese immigrant grandparents, who worked as textile mill laborers before settling down on a hardscrabble farm in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. She wistfully reflects on the suffering and uncertainties of their harsh existence. 1999.

by Suheil Bushrui and Joe Jenkins

read by Graeme Malcolm

3 cassettes

Biography of the poet, artist, and mystic. Describes his relatively short life--he was born in a Lebanese village in 1883 and died in New York in 1931. Discusses his writings and artistic temperament. Analyzes his fame in the Arab-speaking world and his popularity in the West. 1998.

by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Guidebook for Girl Scouts fourteen years and older. Explains the organization and offers suggestions for community service projects. Includes advice on physical and emotional health, career choices, and skills for living. For senior high readers. 1995.

by Annie Dillard

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette

Reflections on the coexistence of God and evil and how an individual fits into the scheme of things. Recounts a trip to Israel, visits to an obstetrical ward, and a paleontologist's story, as well as a discussion of Teilhard de Chardin and the Baal Shem Tov. 1999.

by Jamaica Kincaid

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

A series of meditations and reminiscences on the art of gardening, with a little history thrown in. Kincaid, whose attachment to gardening began when her husband gave her some tools and seeds for Mother's Day, discusses the continual creation of her garden, and why it will never be the garden in her mind's eye. 1999.

by Robert T. Kiyosaki

read by Rick Rohan

2 cassettes

Investor describes how he learned about money from his Ph.D. father, who could never retain wealth, and also from his friend's father, who was a millionaire with an eighth grade education. Explains how to make your money work for you by mastering financial literacy and taking charge. Bestseller 1997.

by James Peterson

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Rather than offering a collection of recipes, Peterson presents a series of basic instructions for various cooking methods. Includes peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables; making sauces and stews; and roasting, grilling, frying, sautéing, or poaching fruits, meats, and vegetables. Also includes kitchen notes and tips. 1999.

by Bob Costas

read by James Leary

1 cassette

Emmy Award-winning broadcaster outlines what he believes is wrong with baseball and offers some cures. Includes suggestions for a new contract in 2001 between owners and players, which includes revenue-sharing, salary basements and ceilings, modification of rules, and realignments of schedules. Bestseller 2000.

by Omar N. Bradley

read by Lou Harpenau

4 cassettes

Memoirs of "GI's General," Omar Nelson Bradley, on his campaigns in World War II, including the conquest of Africa, the invasion of Sicily, D Day at Normandy, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and the German surrender. Discusses tactics and maneuvers, as well as fellow officers. 1951.

by Robert Sekuler and Randolph Blake

read by Richard Hauenstein

2 cassettes

Uses segments from the TV and movie series to explain brain functions and psychological phenomena. Examines nonhuman life forms and their cultural customs as a means of studying human beings from a different perspective. Contains a glossary of main characters and a list of Star Trek episodes. 1998.

by Johanna Skilling

read by Patricia McDermott

2 cassettes

Researching fibroids after her own diagnosis, the author compiled information from doctors and patients on the symptoms, treatments, and impact of having solid lumps of muscle and connective tissue growing in and around the uterus. Usually benign, the tumors affect at least 25 percent and possibly 75 percent of women. 2000.

by Greg Rule

read by Jill Fox

2 cassettes

This survey of synthesizer music offers profiles of seventeen performers, compiled from Keyboard magazine, and discusses the electronic instruments used. Presents interviews with Nine Inch Nails, Mark Snow of the X-Files, and Depeche Mode, among others. Includes a listening guide. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Bob Zmuda

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Longtime friend and writer for the late comic (who is best known for his role on the sitcom Taxi) discusses the work they did together before Kaufman died of cancer at thirty-five in 1984. Zmuda is coexecutive producer for Man on the Moon, a movie about Kaufman. Strong language. 1999.

by Mary Donkersloot

read by Patricia McDermott

4 cassettes

A nutritionist discusses how to live well with diabetes and offers hundreds of recipes (with nutritional analyses and exchanges) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Includes suggested menus and shopping tips. 1998.

by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

A catalog of talking books produced on cassette for adult and young adult readers during 1999. The nonfiction and fiction sections list books by subject categories. Separate listings identify books for young adult readers and for Spanish readers. 1999.

by Bernard Lown

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

A cardiologist asserts that the medical profession has broken down because doctors are relying unduly on technology, rather than examining and listening to patients. He relates anecdotes about his elderly patients to reinforce the importance of getting to know the person behind the symptoms. 1996.

by Dana Mack

read by Kerry Cundiff

3 cassettes

After interviewing parents across the country, the author asserts that millions of them believe the crisis of youth could be solved if government and social institutions allowed families to provide children the needed love, time, protection, and authoritative guidance. Included are seven pro-family proposals. 1997.

by Michael Hiltzik

read by Butch Hoover

3 cassettes

An inside view of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), renowned as a Silicon Valley hotbed of technological development. Traces the facility's evolution from its inception in 1970, describing some eccentricities of the brilliant pioneers in the field of personal computers and related breakthroughs. Alleges that the corporation failed to exploit PARC's inventions. 1999.

by William Shakespeare

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

The complete collection of 154 sonnets attributed to Shakespeare, without commentary. Sonnets 1 to 126 are addressed to a beloved friend--a young man--while Sonnets 127 to 152 are to a lady of dark beauty, and the last two poems are adaptations of a Greek epigram. 1609.

by Susan McCutcheon

read by Kerry Cundiff

2 cassettes

Describes a natural childbirth method begun in the late 1940s by Dr. Robert Bradley. Unlike the Lamaze technique, the Bradley procedure is drug free in most cases. The author, who has been teaching this method since 1970, gives detailed instructions and practice exercises for women and their coaches. 1996.

by Theodore Roszak

read by Randy Davidson

2 cassettes

A historian's optimistic outlook on the social and economic consequences of the aging of the baby-boom generation. Expresses the hope that a healthier, wealthier, better educated, and politically influential older population can help build a more humane society. Exhorts seniors to become agents of positive change. 1998.

by Eileen Welsome

read by Butch Hoover

4 cassettes

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles her investigation of eighteen human subjects who were unwittingly injected with plutonium between 1945 and 1947. She depicts the cultural and political context of the era and examines the complex issues raised that go to the core of democratic society. 1999.

by David Biro

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Biro describes how an odd flashing in his eye troubled him when he was a thirty-one-year-old neophyte dermatologist. After Biro was finally diagnosed with an unusual paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, his doctors then disagreed on the best treatment option. Choosing a bone-marrow transplant, Biro faced the critical one-hundred-day recovery period. 2000.

by Herbert Benson

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

The author of Beyond the Relaxation Response (RC 22254) describes how self-care can be combined with pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other procedures to help the healing process. Self-care methods include a belief in "something good," the placebo effect of "remembered wellness," and religious convictions that enhance the relaxation response. 1996.

by John Hersey

read by Barry Bernson

1 cassette

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author's updated account of the tragedy of the world's first atomic bomb. In 1945, while the ashes of Hiroshima were still warm, Hersey traveled to Japan to interview survivors, whose narratives articulate the devastating aftermath. The last chapter was added nearly forty years later. 1985.

by Andrew Leibs

read by Carol Dines

2 cassettes

Identifies resources available to the visually impaired student to facilitate reading. Lists appropriate agencies and publishers as well as producers of technology that assist the reader, including Internet addresses. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Andrew Rolle

read by Randy Davidson

2 cassettes

A historian's account of the thousands of Confederate soldiers who, unable to accept defeat, fled abroad at the conclusion of the Civil War. Encouraged by the French puppet, Emperor Maximilian, many entered Mexico to start new colonies. Relates the struggles and failures encountered by the Southerners in a hostile and foreign land. 1965.

by Elaine Pascoe

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Brief summaries of the historical, economic, and political importance of the countries that make up East Asia--principally China and Taiwan, Japan, and both Koreas, as well as mainland Southeast Asia and several island nations. Discusses their relevance to the United States and others in the West. For senior high and older readers. 1999.

by Alison Weir

read by Vanessa Maroney

4 cassettes

In this companion to The Princes in the Tower (RC 40697) Weir recounts the events that plunged fifteenth-century medieval Britain into a bloody struggle for the crown. The House of Lancaster, led by the inept King Henry VI, contended with the able duke of York, Richard Plantagenet. 1995.

by Richard A. Wright

read by Gordon Gould

1 cassette

Collection of Richard Wright's eight hundred seventeen short poems composed in the late 1950s. In his snail haiku, he depicts mankind's relationship with nature and observes the unity and harmony among things. In "Lines of Winter Rain," the author explains that beauty can be savored. 1998.

selected by Naomi Shihab Nye

read by Yolande Bavan

1 cassette

Anthology of more than one hundred twentieth-century poems from twenty countries, some written in English and many translated into free verse. Subjects include affection for children and family, patriotic feelings, and grief over exile. Contains brief biographical notes on the contributors. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

by Maria Shriver

read by Jacinda Bronaugh

1 cassette

Expands on a commencement speech given by the author. She discusses lessons she's learned since college on work, money, family, and humor. Describes life as an award-winning television journalist, author of a bestselling children's book, wife of a movie star, niece of a president, and mother of four children. Bestseller 2000.

by Lance Armstrong

read by Mark Ashby

2 cassettes

The internationally recognized Texan cyclist relates how a diagnosis of testicular cancer at age twenty-five changed his priorities. Recounts the major events in his life, including the ordeals of his treatment, his comeback to win the 1999 Tour de France, and his joy in being a father. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Nathaniel Philbrick

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes

Relying mainly on the cabin boy's journal discovered in 1960, the author recounts the disastrous 1819 voyage of the whaling ship Essex. He describes the attack of an eighty-five-foot bull sperm whale, and the ensuing starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism that befell the shipwrecked survivors. Bestseller 2000.

by Garry Wills

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author--for Lincoln at Gettysburg (RC 35368)--and practicing Catholic indicts the Church's hierarchy for the papal sin of deception. Calls for internal reform regarding teachings on birth control and abortion, priests' celibacy, and the ordainment of women. Challenges the Vatican's attitude toward the Holocaust. Bestseller 2000.

by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

Case studies support this discussion of the price boys pay in a culture with rigid ideals of manhood. The authors identify what youngsters need to achieve emotional integrity, and they conclude with seven points for transforming the ways boys are nurtured to better protect their emotional lives. Bestseller 1999.

by Bernie Brillstein

read by Terence Aselford

3 cassettes

Brillstein reflects on his career as Hollywood agent, television and movie producer, studio head, and personal manager to John Belushi, Jim Henson, and other show-business successes. Discusses business relationships that went sour and client friendships that were cut short by untimely deaths. Strong language. Bestseller 1999.

by Sidney Poitier

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

The first African American actor to win an Oscar recalls his idyllic childhood in the Bahamas, his move to Florida at age fifteen, his early struggles to establish an acting career, and his later successes. Poitier reflects on the family values, ethics, and integrity that sustain him. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Martin Amis

read by David Cutler

3 cassettes

The innovative, controversial English writer remembers his father, comic novelist Kingsley Amis, and recalls events and influences in his own artistic development. Contains anecdotes about major literary figures--both his father's friends and his own--Philip Larkin, Saul Bellow, and Salman Rushdie among them. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

edited by Jack Canfield and others

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II (RC 983540), the authors present additional stories and anecdotes written by teenagers. The inspirational themes include relationships, friends and family, and overcoming obstacles. For senior high and older readers. Bestseller 2000.

by Trevor Rees-Jones

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

As the sole survivor of the 1997 auto accident that killed the Princess of Wales, Dodi Fayed, and their chauffeur, bodyguard Rees-Jones offers his account of the events leading up to the crash and its aftermath. He also discusses his own efforts to cope with injuries and unwelcome notoriety. Bestseller 2000.

by Gerald Reaven and others

read by Betty Williams

3 cassettes

Endocrinologist Reaven of Stanford explains the metabolic disorder known as insulin resistance syndrome or Syndrome X, which increases risk for heart attacks. Frequently undiagnosed, this condition is worsened by diets usually recommended for coronary health. Prescribes an appropriate nutritional plan with additional steps for reducing the syndrome's impact. 2000.

by Leonard Steinhorn and Barbara Diggs-Brown

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

Argues that integration between blacks and whites is a myth and not a reality, based on evaluating the ways Americans live, learn, work, and think. Notes that 70 percent of African American children attend predominantly black schools. Opines that the goal of incorporating all racial groups into society is unattainable. 1999.

by Jack Canfield and others

read by Bill Wallace

3 cassettes

Stories designed to deepen faith and nourish the soul, about people who have chosen hope over despair, offered a helping hand to someone in need, or put their faith in God against all odds. Includes tales of love, divine intervention, acts of kindness, the power of belief, and overcoming obstacles. Bestseller 2000.

by Barry Sears

read by Butch Hoover

2 cassettes

In this companion to The Zone (RC 42493) and others, Sears presents simplified instructions for his insulin-controlling diet, asserting that trying the "Zone" for a week will create converts. Includes new research to validate the diet, which he maintains is neither high in protein nor low in carbohydrates. Bestseller 2000.

by Cybill Shepherd

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Actress recalls her professional life as a model and performer, as well as her family life, including marriages and affairs. After over thirty years in the movie business, Cybill celebrates having survived her way. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by David Sedaris

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

A comic essayist and public radio commentator recalls having speech therapy forced upon him (and other "future homosexuals" with lisps) as a child, acquiring his lifelong hatred of computers, failing in an attempt at teaching, and trying to learn French while living in France. Strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

read by Barry Bernson

1 cassette

Techniques and planning for survival in emergencies. Basic rules include being mentally and physically prepared, having access to proper equipment, and refusing to panic. Covers medical crises, natural disasters, attacks by wild animals, and dangers that require fast escapes. Names experts interviewed about each situation. Bestseller 1999.

by Tracey Stewart

read by Pam Ward

2 cassettes

The Australian wife of the late champion golfer Payne Stewart recalls his personal and professional life, including the tournaments he participated in as well as his belief in God. She tells of the faith that sustained their family following her husband's death in a 1999 air crash. Bestseller 2000.

by Cheryl Richardson

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

A personal coach describes how to eliminate energy drains and replace them with things that fuel you in the areas of relationships, surroundings, body, mind, spirit, work, and money. The author uses clients' stories to illustrate points and provides lists of resources. Bestseller 1998.

by T.D. Jakes

read by Bill Wallace

2 cassettes

A Christian bishop with a weekly television broadcast exhorts women to develop their three most important relationships: with themselves, with their husbands, and with God. Suggests empowerment strategies supported by biblical verses to help promote peace and healing. Offers advice on relationships for both men and women. 1998.

edited by Marc Maurer

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

Nine stories recounting how blind adults are creating a past upon which blind children can build their futures. A lawyer gains a better understanding of her blindness while learning how to open a milk carton, and a man discusses how to deal with things done mainly for visual effect. 1999.

by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

read by Jill Fox

4 cassettes

Catalog of books for readers from preschool through grade nine, produced in braille and cassette formats during 1998 and 1999. Nonfiction and fiction books are arranged under general subject headings. Also includes separate sections for print/braille, very young readers, and young adults. 1999.

by Al Roker

read by J.P. Linton

1 cassette

The Today show weatherman humorously describes his experiences of being a father--both to his older daughter from adoption through adolescence and to the baby conceived with his new wife after fertility treatments. Roker also reminisces about his own bus-driver father. Bestseller 2000.

by Henry David Thoreau

read by Bradley Bransford

3 cassettes (Reissue)

Autobiographical record of the author's experiment in essential living at his Walden Pond retreat in the 1850s along with detailed observations of nature and his commentaries on world problems. His essay "Civil Disobedience" is a protest against government's interference with individual liberty. 1960.

by Geoffrey Moorhouse

read by Gordon Gould

2 cassettes (Reissue)

A popular history of three centuries of British rule in India. The account begins with a description of the profoundly alien country the seventeenth-century traders encountered, traces the gradual ascension of the East India Company, and concludes with the sudden disengagement under the last viceroy, Lord Mountbatten. 1983.

by Eugenia Price

read by Patricia McDermott

1 cassette (Reissue)

The author shares her informal reflections and interpretations on those passages of the Bible that are most meaningful to her. 1984.

by Anastasia Hobbet

read by Lindsay Ellison

3 cassettes

Roberta Shea has turned her family's Wyoming ranch into a wild bird rehabilitation center. Her neighbor, sheep rancher Carl Drummond, accidently poisons some eagles while trying to rid his ranch of predatory coyotes, initiating a clash between traditional ranchers and Roberta's environmentalist friends. Based on a similar 1971 event that led to the passage of the Endangered Species Act. 1997.

by E.T.A. Hoffmann

read by Bill Wallace

4 cassettes

Five stories written between 1814 and 1822 when the German Romantic author died. Each tale explores different relations between reality and fantasy. Ritchie Robertson provides the literary context of these tales in his introductory essay. 1992.

by T. Davis Bunn

read by Mimi Bederman

1 cassette

It was supposed to be a wonderful Christmas in Hawaii for fourteen-year-old Marissa and her family. But she has come down with a mysterious illness and must spend the holiday with Gran. As they come to terms with the change in their plans, Gran tells Marissa about a Christmas many years before. 1997.

by Elmer Kelton

read by Don Feldheim

2 cassettes

Texas, 1910. In this sequel to The Good Old Boys (RC 48505), Hewey Calloway settles down and, with his nephew Tommy, runs the Circle W ranch. Hewey is seriously injured trying to prove he can still break a horse. The mishap has one benefit, though; he gets reacquainted with an old girlfriend. 1998.

by Henry James

read by Annie Wauters

7 cassettes in 2 containers

Nineteen short stories originally published in periodicals. Includes "Daisy Miller: A Study," in which an innocent young American tourist scandalizes Europeans by her behavior. In "The Siege of London" James continues his examination of social convention, describing a much-divorced American widow's determination to enter English high society. 1999.

by Thomas Mann

read by Faith Potts

7 cassettes in 2 containers (Reissue)

Recounts the formative years of young Hans Castorp, who travels to Davos, Switzerland, for a three-week visit with his cousin Joachim Ziemssen. Instead, Hans finds himself spending seven introspective years at the tuberculosis sanatorium. New translation of Der Zauberberg, published in 1924 by the 1929 Nobel Prize winner. 1924.

by George P. Pelecanos

read by Chuck Young

2 cassettes

Washington, D.C., 1976. Marcus Clay owns a record store but helps his Vietnam War buddy, Dimitri Karras, deal drugs on the side. When a buy from a psychopath, Wilton Cooper, goes bad, the two flee with stolen money and Cooper's girlfriend. A showdown occurs during the city's bicentennial celebration. Strong language and violence. 1997.

by Tim Pears

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

A family saga of more than forty years. After their wedding in 1952, Charles and Mary Freeman move into Hillmorton Manor in the heart of England. Their home soon fills with four children, a nanny, servants, and an occasional relative. Generations advance, and the configuration of people changes. Then tragedy strikes. Strong language. 1997.

by Angela Huth

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

3 cassettes

Friends Myrtle Duns and Annie Mcleoud have continued to be close since childhood despite their different personalities. Over the years their relationship is tried by jealousy and resentment but still survives. Then Myrtle's husband dies in a fishing accident, and their friendship begins to unravel. 1998.

by Christopher Stasheff

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

As Magnus D'Armand (Gar Pike) and Dirk Dulaine continue their quest of bringing justice to oppressed people, they visit a planet that has no central government. The planet has developed into a primitive feudal system in which landowners war against each other. Sequel to A Wizard in Peace (RC 48803). 1997.

by Ernest Hemingway

read by David Hartley-Margolin

5 cassettes (Reissue)

This edition contains forty-nine stories that first appeared in a 1938 collection plus twenty-one works written after Hemingway moved to Finca Vigia in Cuba. Includes "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," "In Another Country," and "The Strange Country." 1987.

by Anne George

read by Cyn Delafield

2 cassettes

Petite Patricia Anne Hollowell and her plus-size sister, Mary Alice Crane, are thinking about getting involved in an investment club with neighbor Mitzi Phizer, when Mitzi's husband is accused of murdering his first wife. Of course the sisters feel they must help. And their own families create problems too. 1999.

by Max Brand

read by Phil Regensdorf

2 cassettes

A collection of three western stories originally published in the 1920s. "The Werewolf" has a spiritual element; "The Finding of Jeremy" deals with a young New Yorker seeking his fortune in the West; and "The Trail Up Old Arrowhead: A Bull Hunter Story" tells about a gentle giant of a man. 1997.

by Ernest Hemingway

read by Lindsay Ellison

4 cassettes (Reissue)

American Robert Jordan has joined the Republicans fighting against the Fascists during the Spanish civil war. He is on a mission to destroy a strategically located bridge with the help of a band of guerillas. At their camp he falls in love with Maria, a young torture victim. Some violence. 1940.

by Rachel Field

read by Lindsay Ellison

4 cassettes

Mademoiselle Henriette Desportes is serving as governess to the younger children of the Duc and Duchesse de Praslin in France. But in 1847 a tragedy occurs, putting her on trial for murder. When acquitted, Henriette travels to America, marries, and becomes known for her salon at Gramercy Park. Fictional account of the author's great-aunt. 1938.

by Ethan Black

read by Buzz Luttrell

2 cassettes

Psychologist Ian Bainbridge is horrified when a member of his support group for men with broken hearts murders a former sweetheart. Meanwhile, the recently jilted NYPD cop who is investigating the murder suspects that his ex-girlfriend is the killer's next target. Explicit descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language. 1999.

by Zane Grey

read by Don Feldheim

2 cassettes

Falsely accused of robbing a bank, Bruce Lockheart takes to the trail with his lover, pursued by a relentless Texas Ranger. Even as Lockheart keeps his faith in justice being done, he must foreswear his oath never to kill a lawman. Some strong language. 1957.

by Jonathan Lethem

read by Jeremy Gage

3 cassettes

Lionel Essrog, a small-time Brooklyn thug with Tourette's syndrome, seeks revenge for the murder of his boss, Frank Minna. Years ago Minna took the orphaned Essrog under his wing. Essrog now investigates a Zen temple and two aging Mafia chieftains as possible links to Minna's death. Violence and strong language. 1999.

by Michael Hale

read by Gary Telles

3 cassettes

Peter Abbott abandons his stage career to join Calliope Associates, a group of gifted psychics that does secret work for the government. When a series of mishaps befalls several Calliope members, Abbott uses time travel to alter the past but inadvertently changes the course of the world. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Nicole Mones

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Alice Mannegan, the thirty-six-year-old daughter of a racist politician, flees to China, where she works as an archaeologist's translator. While on an expedition, Alice falls in love with Professor Lin Shiyang, but their private demons fetter the couple's relationship. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

For three hundred years a deepwater cache of pirate treasure lying off the coast of Maine has defied repeated recovery attempts. Now a modern team of high-tech explorers sets out to defeat the booby-trapped fortress that surrounds the sunken fortune. Some strong language. 1998.

edited by John Coyne

read by Jeff Baker

3 cassettes

Stories by seventeen authors who lived in cultures ranging from the Caribbean islands to Latin America, Africa, and Asia. They portray Americans abroad, host country nationals' reactions to Americans, and volunteers' experiences living in remote societies with different customs. 1999.

by Kyle Onstott

read by Robert Sams

6 cassettes (Reissue)

Warren Maxwell and his son Hammond live on an Alabama plantation where raising and selling slaves is more profitable than cotton. Hammond's alcoholic wife seeks revenge against her unfaithful husband by seducing a handsome Mandingo slave. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1958.

by Linda Fairstein

read by Faith Potts

2 cassettes

When the corpse of art gallery owner Denise Caxton is found in the Hudson River, New York assistant DA Alexandra Cooper of Final Jeopardy (RC 42441) teams up with detectives Chapman and Wallace to determine if Caxton's death was connected with the art world. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Claire Messud

read by Michele Schaeffer

3 cassettes

Sagesse LaBasse, fifteen, lives in France where her exiled Algerian family owns a hotel. One night her grandfather loses control and shoots at a group of boisterous teenagers. The family, which also includes her handicapped brother, American mother, and harried father, slowly disintegrates. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1999.

edited by Larry Dark

read by Kimberly Schraf

4 cassettes

Twenty stories "full of life, death, love, humor, passion, hubris, blood, guts, dirt, God, war, mystery, fear, and longing." In "Boot" a Marine Corps recruit must make a profound ethical choice that will change his life forever. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Greg Iles

read by Don Feldheim

4 cassettes

Widowed Houston prosecutor turned author Penn Cage returns to his Natchez, Mississippi, hometown. After stirring up trouble by commenting about an unsolved 1968 bombing of a black man, he discovers a personal reason to solve the old case. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Ron Hansen

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

A story depicting Adolph Hitler during his rise to power, but concentrating on his unhealthy affection for his niece, Geli Raubal, who at age twenty-three is found dead in Hitler's apartment. Some descriptions of sex and some violence. 1999.

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

read by Constance Crawford

3 cassettes

Three novellas including the title story as well as The People That Time Forgot and Out of Time's Abyss. Bowen Tyler Jr., with his shipmates, girl, and dog, lands on the island Caspak where time apparently stopped with the Bronze Age. There they encounter terrible animals and various orders of humans. 1924.

by Lauran Paine

read by Dan Bloom

2 cassettes

Life in Constable Charley Bent's quiet town suddenly changes because of events in a nearby cañon. Stories of hidden gold and stealthy Indians take on new meaning when three mysterious strangers arrive with surveying equipment. Then crimes begin to occur and Charley investigates. 1998.

by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn

read by Anne Hancock

2 cassettes

In 1753, English Catherine Price and French Louise Belleveau from neighboring colonies in Acadia meet one day in a meadow while gathering flowers for each young woman's upcoming wedding. Their friendship grows despite language differences and the prospect of war looming over the colonies. 1999.

by Sid Hite

read by Dan Bloom

1 cassette

Cecil Rowe, seventeen, lives in a one-horse town and has just flunked his driver's test. Worse yet, his best friend Isaac is accused of defacing the courthouse sign. Cecil has a crush on the local beauty queen and doesn't realize that Isaac's sister, Isabel, is the girl for him. For senior high readers. 1999.

by Sarah Dessen

read by Lindsay Ellison

2 cassettes

When Colie's overweight mother, Kiki Sparks, became a fitness guru, Colie shed her excess weight too. But taunting classmates continue to shatter Colie's self-esteem, so she spends her fifteenth summer with her odd Aunt Mira and makes her first real friends. For junior and senior high readers. Some strong language. 1999.

by Ridley Pearson

read by Ray Foushee

3 cassettes

Seattle detective Lou Boldt and psychologist Daphne Matthews of Beyond Recognition (RC 47587) team up to track down a serial infant kidnapper. But someone on the task force is leaking information, and Boldt's own daughter is added to the list of victims. Some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by J.F. Freedman

read by Gregory Gorton

3 cassettes

Attorney Luke Garrison, last seen in The Disappearance (RC 49015), becomes a special prosecutor for former classmate Nora Ray--now a district attorney investigating a foul-up by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Digging into the case, he finds numerous sordid secrets among the northern Californians. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 2000.

by E.L. Doctorow

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Ruminations on finding faith in New York City lead an aspiring novelist to focus on the mysterious theft of a brass cross from a church and its use in the desecration of a synagogue. Others, including the concerned rector and rabbi, contribute to the author's jottings. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Catherine Coulter

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Cornwall, 1813. Captain Rafael Carstairs of (Calypso Magic (RC 49520) returns home and immediately finds himself rescuing Victoria Abermarle, a young woman fleeing the advances of his rapacious twin brother. Rafael takes Victoria to London for safe keeping and ends up falling in love. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1988.

by Anton Chekhov

read by David Hartley-Margolin

1 cassette

Representative pieces originally published in Russian magazines between 1880 and 1887, after Chekhov began writing in his twenties. "On the Train" describes the hazards of travel, the odd assortment of characters sharing one compartment, the corrupt conductors, and the train's poor condition--all recounted with good humor. 1998.

edited by Lawrence W. Raphael

read by Pam Ward

3 cassettes

Thirteen short stories with Jewish protagonists and/or issues from authors such as Faye Kellerman, Stuart Kaminsky, Toni Brill, Richard Fliegel, and others. Some violence. 1999.

by Roddy Doyle

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Henry Smart knows he is not the first Henry. His older brother died in infancy, and his mother believes a star in the sky is her first Henry. But regardless of his beginnings, Henry becomes a street-smart kid and an active participant in Ireland's 1916 Easter Uprising. Descriptions of sex and strong language. 1999.

by R.A. Salvatore

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Gary Leger returned to Earth from Faerie several years ago and married Diane. But when his father dies, Gary longs to return to the land of Faerie with his wife. And the sprites of Faerie long for his return as war looms on the horizon. Sequel to The Dragon's Dagger (RC 40621). 1995.

by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison

read by George Holmes

4 cassettes

Orphaned at birth, Athlyn--known to all as Blackmantle--grows up to become queen. But she must risk all to retrieve her beloved Morric, poisoned by a vengeful former love Amzalsunëa. Sequel to The Throne of Scone...(RC 41301). 1997.

by Harry Turtledove

read by Roy Avers

5 cassettes

In the aftermath of conquering most of Earth, Atvar--the leader of the alien Lizard race--awaits the arrival of the nonmilitary colonists. But the humans continue their resistance and take the struggle into space. Companion to the Worldwar series. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Corinne Holt Sawyer

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Things are looking up for retirement home Camden-sur-Mer when tenants begin transferring there from the competition, newly built Golden Years. But the murder of a recent arrival brings bad publicity and another mystery to solve for resident amateur sleuths Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate. 1996.

by Nino Ricci

read by Peter Gil

2 cassettes

In this sequel to In a Glass House (RC 42929), Italian-born Victor's desire to renew ties with his half-sister Rita in Toronto results in emotional complications. When they accidentally meet in their mother's village in Italy, Victor probes their connection without reaching resolution. Some descriptions of sex. 1997.

by Mary Doria Russell

read by Rick Rohan

4 cassettes

The sole survivor of the original mission to Rakhat, Father Emilio Sandoz is still recovering from the brutality he suffered and is reluctant to return. When he arrives in 2060, he learns his former torturer is now in power. Sequel to The Sparrow (RC 43892). Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Ruth L. Ozeki

read by Nanette Savard

3 cassettes

American filmmaker Jane Takagi-Little shoots a Japanese television series featuring American wives preparing meat dishes until she angers producers by delving into controversial subject matter. Meanwhile the wife of the show's executive is inspired by the series, but her anorexia-induced infertility angers her abusive husband. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by David Ball

read by Ted Stoddard

6 cassettes

Nineteenth-century adventurer Count Henri DeVries returns with a Saharan Tuareg wife to France, where their son, Moussa, becomes best friends with his cousin, Paul. Years later, after the DeVries have been driven back to Africa, the formerly close cousins are put at odds when French forces invade the Sahara. Some violence. 1999.

by Caroline B. Cooney

read by Nanette Savard

1 cassette

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Olivette feels as if she is living in a soap opera when her father comes home with her sister's college roommate and announces that they are getting married. Her self-absorbed mom is of little help, so Sophie seeks solace with the stolid family of a classmate. For senior high readers. 1999.

by Helen Fielding

read by Jennifer Mendenhall

2 cassettes

More broad satire of the London singles scene in this sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary (RC 46267). When her affair with Mark Darcy takes a bad turn, Bridget begins a disastrous renovation of her flat and ends up in prison during her vacation in Thailand. Strong language. Bestseller 1999.

by Jeffrey A. Carver

read by Christopher Walker

2 cassettes

In Neptune Crossing (RC 39793), John Bandicut saved the Earth from a comet but lost his alien friend, Charlie, in the process. Now John awakens to find himself stranded in an artificial structure, Shipworld, with two humanoids and a new alien friend, IK, who wants John for a new mission. 1995.

by Jeffrey A. Carver

read by Christopher Walker

3 cassettes

Following the events in Strange Attractors (RC 49762), John Bandicut's next confrontation with chaos takes place underwater. Joined by his robot and alien friends, John finds himself helping the Neri, a species of humanoid amphibians whose existence is threatened by an evil force. 1996.

by Rex Stout

read by David Elias

2 cassettes

American Richard Stetton rescues Aline Solini, a beautiful but evil woman, from a convent in a Balkan town that is overrun by conquering Turks in 1914. As Stetton falls in love with her, Aline tries to murder her Russian husband, who later pursues her relentlessly. First published as a serial. Some violence. 1994.

by Ronald Wright

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

London, 1999. Industrial archaeologist David Lambert happens upon the reappearance of H.G. Wells's time machine. He boards the device and leaps five hundred years into the future, where he becomes a fugitive in a wild, desolate England and manages to unravel his own past. Some violence and some strong language. 1997.

by Bruce Alexander

read by George Holmes

2 cassettes

England, 1771. Blind judge Sir John Fielding and his ward Jeremy Proctor investigate a young man's claim to the Paltrow family estate. The claimant has just returned after eight years in the North American colonies and his identity is in doubt, and the

Crown covets the disputed prize. 1999.

by J.R. Dunn

read by John Stratton

3 cassettes

In the future when time travel is possible, time monitor Gaspar James, from planet Arpad, must prevent anyone from altering the past and thus disrupting the continuum of life. When his student, renegade Alma Lewin, travels back to 1943 to liberate Nazi death camps, James intervenes. Violence. 1997.

by Clive Egleton

read by Graeme Malcolm

2 cassettes

When British Secret Intelligence Service rogue operative Peter Ashton's wife and colleague, Harriet, discovers three dead agents in a safe house, Ashton feels obligated to find the killers. His investigation leads to Russians, Cubans, Muslims, and a showdown in Virginia. Some violence and some strong language. 1997.

by Nancy Freedman

read by Barbara Caruso

3 cassettes

Fictionalized life story of the sixth-century B.C. Greek poet from the island of Lesbos. Widowed after a brief marriage, she founded an academy for young women, whom she praised in her lyric poems. But it is her love for a young sailor that determines her fate. Some descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Joan Hess

read by Suzanne Toren

2 cassettes

Bookstore owner Claire Malloy is shocked that her friend Luanne is having an affair with a man the sheriff suspects killed two wives. Because of Claire's previous success as an amateur sleuth, Luanne asks her to come to her lover's weekend lake-front home to try to clear his name. 1994.

by Maxine Chernoff

read by Mary Kane

1 cassette

A divorced mother is having an affair with her unhappily married neighbor when their two sons are involved in a tragic accident. When one of the boys kills the other with a crossbow, the survivors struggle to recover from the event. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

by Sheri S. Tepper

read by Anne Flosnik

3 cassettes

On the imperiled planet Newholme, where men outnumber women two to one, the youthful consort Mouche plays a key role in recovering secrets from the past. When the six moons are in alignment, mysterious forces come into play. Some strong language. 1998.

by Bill Myers

read by Bob Moore

2 cassettes

Indiana blue-collar worker Brandon Martus is struggling to get past his grief over the deaths of his father and sister after an auto accident in which Brandon was the driver. Brandon's newfound prescience is dismissed as guilt over the tragedy, until a neurobiologist discovers paranormal causes. 1997.

by Colin Channer

read by Samarra Mbenga

3 cassettes

Jamaican writer Adrian "Fire" Heath first meets editor Sylvia Lucas on the streets of New York and later she turns up at his friend's party. The two resist their growing love for each other as Fire travels to England and Sylvia dates another. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1998.

by Lindsay Caldwell

read by Margaret Strom

2 cassettes

After an automobile accident, high school student Lucy St. Cloud struggles with the realization that she may never walk again. Then she is jilted by her boyfriend and subjected to painful rehabilitation therapy, but finds diversion in chatting with someone she met online. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 1998.

by Kathryn Davis

read by Vanessa Maroney

2 cassettes

Two business partners, Bobby Rose and Coleman Snow, and their wives, Carole Ridingham and Ruth Farr, join a walking tour in Wales. A tragedy ensues, and for years Bobby and Carole's daughter Susan pieces together clues from the subsequent trial and other sources. Some strong language. 1999.

by Alan Warner

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

In this sequel to Morvern Callar (RC 45809) the spunky Morvern meets an air-crash investigator at an obscure and forbidding honeymoon hotel. The two join forces to deal with a series of outlandish characters, one of whom is organizing "the big one," an unprecedented rave on a remote airstrip. Some strong language. 1997.

by Robert F. Jones

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

In 1833, brothers Dillon and Owen Griffith head west with a Shawnee scout to hunt beaver. Attacked by one group of Indians and rescued by another led by part African American war chief James Pierson Beckwourth, Dill and Owen find their troubles only beginning. Violence and some strong language. 1998.

by Scott Anderson

read by Chris Parente

2 cassettes

War correspondent Mark Walsh, wounded and traumatized in Kurdistan, returns home to New York. As his condition worsens, the grandfather of Mark's girlfriend assists his recovery with a "purifying" technique found useful in treating Franco's fascists during the Spanish Civil War. Rehabilitation leads to family reconciliation. Violence and some strong language. 1998.

by Wilbur Smith

read by Randy Wieck

4 cassettes (Reissue)

Archaeologist Benjamin Kazin, his assistant Sally Benator, and their financier Louren Sturvesant venture to Botswana to uncover the ancient Carthaginian city of Opet. After becoming infected by a virus at the site, Sturvesant dies and Kazin falls into a coma wherein he relives the final days of the ancient civilization. Violence. 1972.

edited by Shannon Ravenel

read by Fred Major

2 cassettes

Twenty stories on various themes that give insight into the culture of the American south. In "Borrowed Hearts" a retiree is beset by the sudden loss of his olfactory sense. His dreams, which are redolent of a haunting past experience, vanish after he is cured. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

by Rita Mae Brown

read by Ann Hodapp

3 cassettes

Sisters Julia Ellen and Louise Hunsenmeir of Runnymede, Maryland, are always fighting. On April 7, 1941, they have a brawl that causes almost four hundred dollars' worth of damage to Cadwalder's drugstore. To help pay for the repairs, the two women open a beauty salon that becomes "Gossip Central." Some strong language. 1999.

by George R.R. Martin

read by Roy Avers

6 cassettes

In this sequel to A Game of Thrones (RC 45742) a state of hostility prevails as six contenders vie for dominance over the kingdom following the death of Lord Eddard Stark. Families are torn asunder in relentless internecine combat over the throne. Some descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 1999.

by Gilbert Morris

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

In this sequel to The Silver Star (RC 45106), cousins Peter and Phil Winslow are in New York City. Phil, an aspiring artist, meets the reclusive Cara Lanier, also a painter. Peter, meanwhile, gets involved in auto racing and joins society's "fast set." An accident brings them all closer together. 1998.

by Elisabeth Ogilvie

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Widow Philippa Marshall has great expectations when she comes to Bennett's Island, Maine, to teach at the one-room school. But she is not prepared for the growing rivalry between the island's influential families, the reasons behind school truancy, or her feelings for Steve Bennett. Prequel to The Seasons Hereafter (RC 49922). 1954.

by Max Brand

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

Three short novels of the American west, written in the 1920s. In "Sheriff Larrabee's Prisoner," saddle tramp Jack Montagne is framed for the murder of an old miser. Montagne is pursued and captured by Larrabee's posse, but the sheriff's daughter decides to find the real killer. Some violence. 1999.

by Penelope Lively

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

Retired social anthropologist Stella Brentwood moves to western rural England near her old school chums. Stella has lived all over the world and observed many different societies in her line of work. But once in the country, she finds it difficult to adjust--especially with a dangerous, dysfunctional family next door. 1998.

by Robert Easton

read by Robert Sams

2 cassettes

Twelve adventure stories of the American west. In "Quick and the Cat" a bounty hunter of mountain lions sets out to rid the territory of the dreaded cats. After killing a litter of kittens in their den, the hunter meets with misfortune and himself becomes the prey. Some strong language. 1999.

by Will Cook

read by Michael Scherer

2 cassettes

1870s. Although Tracy Cameron is a career army officer, he believes in peace more than war--especially in north Texas, with the Comanche. Backers in Washington, D.C., support Cameron, but General Sherman has other ideas. Original version of the novel for the 1961 movie Two Rode Together. 1999.

by Agatha Christie and Charles Osborne

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

On entering a country house to seek help with a car problem, Michael Starkwedder finds a corpse in a wheelchair and a woman with a gun in her hand. Although the woman, Laura Warwick, claims to have shot her husband, Michael does not immediately call the police. Adapted from the 1958 play. 1999.

by Richard Peck

read by Michele Schaeffer

1 cassette

Carol Peterson, middle daughter of a single mother, gets the responsibilities while her older sister enjoys freedom and popularity. But Carol's difficulties also mature her so she is better able to help and understand her family. Basis for the movie Gas Food Lodging. For junior and senior high readers. 1972

by Earl Lovelace

read by John Stratton

2 cassettes

As carnival time approaches, residents of Calvary Hill, a shantytown in Trinidad, begin making preparations. Miss Cleothilda knows she will retain her position as queen, and Aldrick Prospect will once again be king. But other things are changing: outsiders are encroaching and the inhabitants are losing their former rebellious spirit. Strong language. 1979.

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes

Lord and Lady Greystoke are cast ashore on the African coast after a shipboard mutiny. They later die in the jungle, but their infant son survives (nursed by a family of great apes) to become Tarzan. Originally published as a novel; subsequently became the first in the series. 1914.

by Oscar Hijuelos

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

The dreams and setbacks of a Cuban American family in New York City. Raul pledges to provide for Lydia, his bride and empress of the splendid season of love. But when heart disease incapacitates Raul, highborn Lydia must support the family as a cleaning woman. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

by Günter Grass

read by Robert Blumenfeld

2 cassettes

Günter Grass, the 1999 winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, chronicles his own and Germany's centennium through one hundred short stories, one for each year of the twentieth century. For 1989 Grass recalls a parent-teacher association's concern about a schoolteacher's "obsession with the past." 1999.

by Jhumpa Lahiri

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

Nine tales of brief encounters with lasting effects, set in India and America. Each emphasizes cultural transition and loss. In the title piece, while American-born Mr. and Mrs. Das and their three young children are tourists in India, Mrs. Das confides a disquieting secret to their guide. Pulitzer Prize. Bestseller 1999.

by Jeffery Deaver

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Quadriplegic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme is in North Carolina for experimental surgery, when he and his colleague Amelia Sachs are recruited for a local case. An odd teen nicknamed Insect Boy has killed a youth and kidnapped two young women, and the cops can't find him. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Michael Ondaatje

read by Anne Flosnik

2 cassettes

Representing the Centre for Human Rights, Anil Tissera, a forensic pathologist, arrives in Sri Lanka, her birthplace, to investigate reports of political mass murders. Her task is complicated by uncertainty over the trustworthiness of her government-appointed counterpart, Sarath Diyasena, an archaeologist. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Stuart Woods

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Vice President Joe Adams suffers secretly from Alzheimer's disease when the president is incapacitated by a stroke. Georgia senator Will Lee, last seen in Grass Roots (RC 37797), sets his sights on the White House. Then scandals and blackmail surface. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by Olivia Goldsmith

read by Annie Wauters

4 cassettes

Two friends, Jada and Michelle, lean on each other when both their marriages take frightening turns. They find additional support in recently wed Angela, an attorney who herself is reeling from a nasty marital surprise. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by David Rotenberg

read by Gary Tipton

2 cassettes

Shanghai police inspector Zhong Fong investigates the murder of an American policeman with the help of the slain officer's widow. Meanwhile, Fong fights his own demons when his late wife's foreign lover returns to the city. Then an African diplomat is killed. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. 1998.

by Stephanie Mittman

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

Abrasive radio personality Harris Tweed announces his suspicions that the Reverend Phil Springfield siphoned church scholarship money. Driving to confront Tweed, the pastor crashes and dies. As he anonymously helps Springfield's young widow and her foster children, Tweed falls in love. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1999.

edited by Amy Tan

read by Fred Major

4 cassettes

In her introduction, guest editor Tan indicates she chose these twenty-one stories because they have a strong narrative voice, elements of fairy tales and the grotesque, and an exotic flavor. Includes selections by Rick Bass, Tim Gautreaux, Ha Jin, Lorrie Moore, and Annie Proulx. Some violence and some strong language. 1999.

by Max Brand

read by Randy Davidson

2 cassettes

Hoping to draw New York socialite Margaret Tyson into his life, dam builder Ed Garth convinces her beloved brother Henry that working for him out west for a while will make him a man and improve his boxing. Henry thrives until he learns Ed's real motive. Some violence and some strong language. 1920.

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

1 cassette

Nineteen-year-old Anne Ordway, shocked and disillusioned when her parents divorce, retreats to Maryland's Eastern Shore with her nurse and companion, Vicky. But she has already met Charles Patterson, also divorced, and cannot forget him. 1938.

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

In rural Maryland just after the First World War, Anne Warfield, a young school teacher, becomes infatuated with a doctor who returns to the area with his mother. But Richard Brooks and his wealthy New York crowd seem to belong to another class altogether. 1917.

by Piers Anthony

read by Sharon Murray

3 cassettes

Demoness Metria has a problem that only the good magician Humfrey can help her solve. But before Humfrey will help her, she must gather together a group of people to serve as jurors in the trial of Roxanne Roc, a bird charged with an improbable offense. 1995.

by Sterling Hayden

read by Roy Avers

5 cassettes (Reissue)

The eventful story of Captain Pendleton's ill-starred voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco on the windjammer "Neptune's Car." A shipping magnate's pampered daughter looks on as the maltreated, overworked crew is driven to mutiny. Strong language, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 1976.

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

Lively twenty-year-old Jane Barnes keeps house for her brother Baldwin in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. When Baldwin and wealthy Edith Towne fall in love, Edith's uncle Frederick pursues Jane. But Jane is drawn to neighbor Evans Follette, a depressed World War I veteran. 1923.

by Max Brand

read by Jack Fox

2 cassettes

Collection of seven lively stories. Includes "Bad Eye: His Life and Letters," in which a Nevada bartender is forced to kill an obnoxious tenderfoot called Bad Eye. When a woman from the East comes looking for the dead man, the saloon owner and the bartender close ranks. Some violence and some strong language. 1920.

by Dorothy Canfield

read by Terry Hayes Sales

2 cassettes

Mrs. Bascomb has lived alone for several years when her son writes that he is bringing his new wife home--to his mother's house. Mrs. Bascomb's peaceful life is soon shattered, as she tries to accept (and control) a woman who is not her idea of the right one for her son. 1926.

by Rex Beach

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

When Pierce Phillips arrives in the Yukon, he finds gold and adventure, as well as many women who are drawn to his charm. One rescues him after he is wrongly accused of stealing, another offers him a "better" job, and a third will win his heart. 1918.

by John P. Marquand

read by Richard Hauenstein

3 cassettes (Reissue)

A chronicle of everyday life in the old Brill homestead at Wickford Point, north of Boston. The stories of the members of this self-satisfied family are told by a cousin, Jim Calder, who is loyal but determined to remain outside the circle of their smothering interdependence. 1939.

by Fern Michaels

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

After Jill Barton is left standing at the altar, she gets in her car and heads north, ending up at an artists' colony in New England. There she meets Aggie Beaumont, who helps her heal, and Logan Matthews, the owner, who steals her heart. Some descriptions of sex. 1981.

by Max Brand

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Because he has to have the big-chested stallion at any cost, Ever Winton--the only man who can ride the wild mustang Red Pacer--makes a bargain with a notorious gunman. Some violence and some strong language. 1934.

by Dorothy Canfield

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Collection of fourteen short stories also includes three poems by Sarah N. Cleghorn. In "The Sick Physician," a newly widowed young Polish woman in an American village surprises her neighbors with her talent for singing. She transforms their lives with lessons, and appears to have moved past her own heartbreak. 1916.

by Dorothy Canfield

read by Mitzi Friedlander

4 cassettes

Europe, 1909. Neale Crittenden was raised in New Jersey and led a conventional life until he was jilted and decided to travel. When he meets American Marise Allen, who has lived many years in France, they discover they each have relatives in Vermont. The two soon fall in love. 1922.

by Robert W. Chambers

read by Janis Gray

3 cassettes

As a child, Rue Carew played with an odd chest left in her missionary father's care by a German who was killed. Later, studying art in Paris, Rue's friendship with a Russian princess makes her realize the importance of the chest's contents, and she asks a mutual friend to retrieve it. 1917.

by Rex Beach

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes

After rescuing her in the desert near the Rio Grande, young ranger Dave Law falls in love with a wealthy rancher's wife, Alaire Austin. But her husband is suspected of dealing with Mexican rebels, and Law's job is to keep the peace. Some violence. 1915.

by Robert W. Chambers

read by John Polk

3 cassettes

In 1781, during the American war for independence, Mr. Washington has planted a young spy against the British in New York City. The youth's precarious position is further complicated when he falls in love with a Tory belle. 1905.

by Brian Freemantle

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

Recently appointed to Europol, forensic and criminal psychologist Claudine Carter is assigned to a case involving body parts found throughout Europe. Meanwhile she learns her late husband (a recent suicide) is suspected of insider trading, her mother is dying, and her superior at work is hiding something. Strong language and some violence. 1998.

by Temple Bailey

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

When the impoverished Oliphant family of Annapolis are forced to sell their fabulous family estate, their sheltered children attract the attention of various wealthy suitors. Young Virginia is torn between two potential husbands while her poet brother is attracted to a carefree debutante. 1929.

edited by Lori Copeland and others

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Four short Christian romance stories set in the nineteenth century. In "Something Old" and "Something New," recent immigrants to America face difficulties with their love interests. In "Something Borrowed," Emma arrives at her inherited ranch to find an interloper. In "Something Blue," Norwegian Astrid reaches Louisiana and learns that her husband is dead. 1998.

by Gish Jen

read by Mary Kane

2 cassettes

Eight short stories featuring Chinese American protagonists. In the title piece a Chinese grandmother is banned from her daughter's home after spanking her unruly Irish-Chinese granddaughter. In "Duncan in China" a Chinese American dropout moves to China to teach English but remains an outsider. 1999.

by Ridley Pearson

read by Michele Schaeffer

2 cassettes

A container spotted off Seattle's coast carries dead and ill Chinese women. As cop Lou Boldt works the homicide angle and INS agents work theirs, anchorwoman Stevie McNeal and her Chinese adopted sister, Melissa, begin their own investigation. When Melissa disappears, McNeal must turn to the police. Violence and some strong language. 1999.

by Sandra Brown

read by Barbara Pinolini

1 cassette

Dani dreads her high school reunion. Ten years ago her parents forced her to annul the wedding vows she secretly took with Logan Webster. Now she has to face him again and, worse, ask him to sell some acreage for charity. Explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1984.

by Eloisa James

read by Corrie James

3 cassettes

In 1798, as seventeen-year-old Charlotte prepares for her debut into London society, she shocks herself by allowing a stranger to take her virginity at a low-class masked ball. Three years later, Charlotte realizes the man from the masquerade is an earl who doesn't remember her. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1999.

by Will James

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Ten-year-old Kip and his sister Scootie, eleven, spend the summer with their cowboy Uncle Bill at the Five Barb Ranch. The city kids, who have a lot to learn about horses and cattle, pester their uncle with questions all day long. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1932.

by Brian Freemantle

read by Anne Flosnik

3 cassettes

International hotel magnate Harry Rudd, still grieving over his wife's death in childbirth, begins a hostile takeover of a rival British chain. Sir Ian Buckland vows to block it. A vengeful ex-father-in-law tries to destroy Rudd, who inexplicably falls in love with Buckland's wife, Lady Margaret. Some descriptions of sex. 1982.

by Martin Gardner

read by Annie Wauters

1 cassette

For the centennial of L. Frank Baum's story about Oz, Hollywood mogul Sam Gold decides to produce it as a musical film. At Gold's behest Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman show up in New York City, where they encounter mayor Giuliani, Oprah Winfrey, and others. 1998.

by Zadie Smith

read by Anne Flosnik

4 cassettes

Set in London and spanning some twenty-five years, these are the misadventures of World War II buddies Archie Jones, an Englishman, and Samad Iqbal, a Bengali Muslim. Encompassing their marriages and offspring, their story explores religion, ethnicity, and gender. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Robert Crais

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Carol Starkey left the LAPD bomb squad for a detective position following an explosion that killed her colleague and lover, and left her briefly dead. Now she reluctantly pairs up with federal agent Jack Pell to catch a serial bomber called Mr. Red. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by Danielle Steel

read by Faith Potts

2 cassettes

California divorce lawyers Liz and Jack Sutherland have five children and an idyllic marriage. But after Jack is killed by the deranged husband of a client, the family gradually learns to cope without him. Then an accident brings a new person into their lives. Some strong language. 2000.

by Belva Plain

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Gerald, a well-respected plastic surgeon, and Hyacinth enjoy an idyllic marriage with two children. But in the aftermath of a fire at Gerald's office, Hyacinth finds herself in a desperate struggle for custody of her son and daughter. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000.

by Philip Roth

read by Roy Avers

3 cassettes

Dean of faculty Coleman Silk retires in the scandal that ensues when he is accused of uttering a racial slur. He recruits a neighboring author to tell his story, and a long-hidden secret about Silk's heritage is revealed. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by T. Jefferson Parker

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Orange County, California, police sergeant Merci Rayborn, last seen in The Blue Hour (RC 49184), discovers evidence that her boyfriend, vice cop Mike McNally, might have murdered a call girl. And the crime has similarities with an unsolved thirty-year-old case. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by Robin Jones Gunn

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Sophomore Christy Miller hopes to make the cheerleading squad at her new school, but she faces a jealous classmate, financial problems, and complications between the two guys she's interested in. She makes a surprising decision based on her faith in God. For junior and senior high readers. 1998.

by Temple Bailey

read by Erik Sandvold

2 cassettes

Jerry Chandler falls in love at first sight with Mimi Le Brun, a senator's granddaughter. Later, at Yale, Jerry becomes involved with Mimi's family even though he is a poor preacher's son. But can he convince a society girl to marry him? 1924.

by Diane Johnson

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

In Paris, Belgian American journalist Tim Nolinger is engaged to a French antiques dealer. While investigating a stolen manuscript, Tim falls for an American actress. Soon people are caught up in murder, wrongful arrest, and declarations of love. Companion to Le Divorce (RC 44152). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Cliff Farrell

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

Thirteen western stories by a career newspaperman, first published in magazines during the 1940s and 1950s. Locales range from the Ohio frontier of the early 1800s to the Wyoming range, and characters include teenagers, sheltered brides, gamblers, cowboys, and con artists. Some violence. 1999.

by Catherine Coulter

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

London, 1811. Innkeeper Lady Helen Mayberry, knowledgeable in the art of erotic discipline, uses her wiles on Lord Beecham to convince him to become her partner in searching for a mythical lamp of inestimable value. Love triumphs, but only after the pair become embroiled in some deadly intrigues. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Miriam Bat-Ami

read by Kristin Allison

2 cassettes

A World War II refugee love story told in two voices: Adam Bornstein, a Yugoslavian Jew living in a refugee camp in Oswego, New York, and Christine Cook, a Catholic from Oswego. Both teenagers wish love could be enough to solve all their differences. For junior and senior high readers. Scott O'Dell Award. 1999.

by Cait London

read by Pam Ward

3 cassettes

Hogan Kodiak is begged by Jemma--the annoying friend of his half-sister, Carley--to help her protect Carley against a stalker. As the troubled Kodiak family gathers on their Montana ranch, Hogan is surprised by his attraction to Jemma. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. 1999.

by John Mortimer

read by Jim Zeiger

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Titmuss Regained (RC 32613), Lord Titmuss has been deposed but, wanting revenge against the Tories, helps New Labourite Terry Flitton win a seat in Parliament. Once Flitton is elected, however, his past begins to haunt him. Some strong language. 1998.

by Gail Tsukiyama

read by Jill Ferris

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Women of the Silk (RC 35524), Pei and her young cousin Ji Shen arrive in Hong Kong. With help, Pei finds work as a domestic and Ji Shen begins school. But their future is not secure, and the Japanese invasion will further change their lives. Some violence. 1999.

by John Farrow

read by Jim Zeiger

3 cassettes

Sergeant-Detective Cinq-Mars watches his beloved Montreal being taken over by an alliance of gangs, including the Russian Mafia. He receives a macabre Christmas gift--a police informant dressed as Santa Claus and impaled on a meat hook. Cinq-Mars realizes the depth of treachery he faces. Violence, some explicit descriptions of sex, and some strong language. 1999.

by Richard S. Wheeler

read by Bob Askey

2 cassettes

Silver City, Colorado; 1878. Crusading journalist Sam Flint sets up a newspaper office in a bawdy house in the overcrowded town. Flint soon clashes with the local powers, including the corrupt and domineering mine owner, Achilles Balthazar. Sequel to Flint's Truth (RC 47865). 1999.

by Harold Adams

read by Fred Major

1 cassette

Carl Wilcox, depression-era itinerant sign painter and detective, is hired to look into the rape and murder of a teenage girl in a small South Dakota town. Wilcox soon falls in love with Hazel, the school librarian. Before long another murder occurs, leaving one less suspect. 1998.

by William F. Weld

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Terry Mullally--last seen in Mackerel by Moonlight (RC 49138) and now the freshman senator from Massachusetts--is being courted by the potential presidential candidates, including Vice President Martha Holloway and Senator Anson Vivian from Big Ugly, West Virginia. Mullally becomes seduced by power and money while trying to hide his own skeletons. 1999.

by Saul Bellow

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

portrait of an intense friendship between two men. At novelist Chick's instigation, university professor Abe Ravelstein has published his ideas in a book that has become a bestseller. Now, during a celebratory trip to Paris, Ravelstein, dying of AIDS, urges Chick to be his biographer. Some strong language. Bestseller 2000..Bestseller2000.

by Robert Marshall

read by Bruce Huntey

1 cassette

Classic tale of the golf match between boorish Major Jacky Gore and champion Jim Lindsay for the hand of an American millionairess. Once in Scotland, Gore--who has never played golf in his life--receives unexpected assistance from the ghost of a clergyman with a grudge. 1999 introduction by John Updike. 1902.

by Nora Roberts

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

Contains Irish Thoroughbred and Irish Rose, relating the stories of cousins Adelia Cunnane and Erin McKinnon. Each independent young woman comes to America and finds success, love, and happiness with a neighboring Maryland horse-farm owner. Prequel to Irish Rebel (RC 50505). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Nora Roberts

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette

Keeley Grant, daughter of Travis and Adelia--from Irish Hearts (RC 50504)--finds herself falling in love with Brian Donnelly, the new horse trainer for Royal Meadows. The feeling is mutual, but Brian fears he is not worthy of the daughter of a well-to-do family. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Mario Puzo

read by L.J. Ganser

2 cassettes

When retired Mafia don Raymonde Aprile is assassinated on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral, his protégé Astorre Viola draws on his Sicilian heritage and the don's training to avenge the murder. Astorre transforms from charming macaroni importer to shrewd decision maker. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by Janet Evanovich

read by Annie Wauters

2 cassettes

In this sequel to High Five (RC 48439) bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's mentor, the dangerously appealing Ranger, is the one who has skipped bail. Meanwhile, Stephanie is being tailed, her apartment is tossed, her relationship with cop Joe Morelli turns interesting, and her grandmother moves in. Violence and strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Patricia H. Rushford

read by Pam Ward

2 cassettes

Retired Portland, Oregon, policewoman Helen Bradley investigates the murder of a gerontologist who was experimenting with a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease. When his wife is also murdered, Helen--against the advice of family members--checks into the doctor's convalescent home to observe the effects of his research. Some violence. 1997.

by Lurlene McDaniel

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Before she begins college, Heather Barlow volunteers to serve on a hospital mercy ship to Africa. There she falls in love with Scottish seminary and medical student Ian McCollum. But when Ian's plane crashes during a rescue mission, Heather's faith in God is tested. For senior high readers. 1999.

by Thomas Baum

read by David Hartley-Margolin

2 cassettes

When ex-con Denton Hake's girlfriend turns up dead, he is fingered for the murder and winds up on death row. Hake has been having out-of-body experiences, so he employs his paranormal powers to solve the crime for which he was convicted. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1997.

by Iris Johansen

read by Madelyn Buzzard

2 cassettes

In this sequel to The Killing Game (RC 49153) Logan's late wife's vengeful half-brother, Rudzak, kidnaps an employee from Logan's research facility. Logan manipulates ATF agent Sarah Patrick and her search dog, Monty, into helping him track the hostage. Strong language, some descriptions of sex, and some violence. Bestseller 2000.

by Barbara Delinsky

read by Terry Hayes Sales

3 cassettes

Widowed just six months, vineyard owner Natalie Seebring, seventy-six, shocks her children by inviting them to her wedding to her employee, Carl Burke. Meanwhile, Natalie hires single mother Olivia Jones to help prepare a memoir that will explain her long history with Carl. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by Alice Hoffman

read by John Polk

2 cassettes

Massachusetts's Haddan School was built in 1858 for wealthy students from across the country. Even a century later, locals do not attend. But following the inexplicable death of a student, the entire town becomes involved, as policeman Abel Grey finds himself searching for solutions to both old and new mysteries. 2000.

by Eileen Goudge

read by Jill Fox

3 cassettes

Teenage new mother Mary learns her friend Corrine has killed herself. Thirty years later, Mary's grown daughter, Noelle, is in a vicious custody battle with devious, influential, ex-husband Robert--Corinne's high-school boyfriend--over their five-year-old daughter. Noelle's family looks to the past for ammunition in the case. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2000.

by Patricia Gaffney

read by Madelyn Buzzard

3 cassettes

Carrie, her mother, and her fifteen-year-old daughter describe the aftermath of Carrie's husband's unexpected death. Carrie begins to recover when she's given opportunities to work creatively and to rekindle the love of her life. But her mother and daughter don't approve. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Nora Roberts

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

In this sequel to Jewels of the Sun (RC 49482) Shawn Gallagher, musician and cook at his family's pub in Ardmore, Ireland, falls in love with a childhood playmate. But is Brenna O'Toole too practical to marry a daydreamer? Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller 2000.

by Catherine Coulter

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

2 cassettes

New York governor's speechwriter Becca Matlock is being stalked, but the police won't believe her. She escapes to Albany and then Maine, but each time the phone calls resume. Finally, Becca receives anonymous help to end the terror. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2000.

by Helen Dunmore

read by Pam Ward

2 cassettes

Nina, a London photographer, goes to the country to care for her older sister Isabel, who has had a baby (and a hysterectomy). Nina begins an affair, unaware of how much this baby reminds Isabel of their brother's crib death. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1996.

by Janet Dailey

read by Martha Harmon Pardee

1 cassette

At twenty-six, Eve "plain Jane" Rowland wonders if she will ever find love in the small town of Cable, Wisconsin. Then she and Luck McClure have several "accidental" meetings that change their lives forever. Some descriptions of sex. 1981.

by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

read by Nanette Savard

1 cassette

Amateur sleuth Alvirah Meehan assists Los Angeles private investigator Regan Reilly, who is in New York visiting her parents for Christmas when her father is kidnapped. This joint effort by mother and daughter authors brings together characters from earlier works by each writer. Bestseller 2000.

by Daniel Cohen

read by Nancy Kronenfeld

1 cassette

Introduces the history and possible future of the science of cloning and gene therapy, and the social consequences of such experiments. Includes information on Dolly the sheep and the possibility of replicating dinosaurs. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1998.

by James Cross Giblin

read by Anne Hancock

1 cassette

An account of the discovery of the first mastodon skeletons and their exhibit in Philadelphia in 1801. Describes the role of Charles Willson Peale in excavating and assembling the fossil remains. Also contains a biographical sketch of Peale and facts about mammoths and mastodons. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Debby Morehead

read by Arnie Warren

1 cassette

Story of a boy's coming to terms with the death of his dog, Charlee. At first Mark is sad and depressed, so his parents help him by remembering Charlee in special ways. But it is a friend whose cat died who helps him the most. For grades 2-4. 1996.

by Laurence Yep

read by Christopher Walker

1 cassette

Newbery Honor author, born in 1948, tells of growing up in a San Francisco apartment over his parents' corner grocery. Though his family emigrated from China, Chinese was not spoken in Yep's home. His childhood is reflected in Child of the Owl (RC 11545) and other fiction. For grades 6-9. 1991.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Gary Telles

1 cassette

Briefly discusses the negative and positive aspects of keeping reptiles as pets and describes a variety of such companions. Includes turtles, iguanas, boas, pythons, anoles, chameleons, geckos, water dragons, basilisks, frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Lists Internet resources for each. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Peter Jennings and Todd Brewster

read by Ted Stoddard

2 cassettes

A chronicle of the twentieth century, interspersed with eyewitness accounts by ordinary citizens. Focuses on key political and social events in the world that shaped U.S. history. Adapted from the adult bestseller. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Bestseller 1999.

by Elie Wiesel

read by David Elias

1 cassette

Retells stories of King Solomon based on biblical accounts and legends from the Talmud and Midrash. The tales span the monarch's life, from boyhood through his forty-year reign, revealing both his wisdom and his human weakness. For grades 2-4. 1999.

by Jean Fritz

read by Cyn Delafield

1 cassette

Traces the life of the French nobleman who fought for democracy in the eighteenth-century revolutions in America and France. In 1777 the twenty-year-old general Lafayette served valiantly under George Washington and established himself as a hero in the hearts of the American people. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Patricia Lauber

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

Describes the development of eating customs and table manners from the Stone Age through modern days. Explains how knives, spoons, chopsticks, and eventually forks came into use and what was considered polite in different centuries and countries. For grades 2-4. 1999.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Gary Telles

1 cassette

Describes physical characteristics and living habits of ten exotic animals and provides practical details of maintaining them. Discusses whether the armadillo, coatimundi, ferret, hedgehog, llama, miniature horse and donkey, monkey, potbellied pig, pygmy goat, and sugar glider should be owned as pets. For grades 3-6. 1999.

by Marianne J. Dyson

read by Mark Ashby

1 cassette

Describes what life is like on space stations and how crews are trained to survive in weightlessness. Explains how air, water, and power will be supplied to the station and discusses how the human body will react and what tasks will be performed. Includes experiments and activities related to these topics. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Margaret Mulvihill

read by Gordon Gould

1 cassette

Introduces more than forty saints from the early years of Christianity to the twentieth century, ranging from Mary and Joseph to Elizabeth Seton. Definitions of "saint" and "martyr" and a description of the canonization process are followed by brief biographical sketches of the holy figures. For grades 5-8. 1999.

selected by Jack Prelutsky

read by Gordon Gould

1 cassette

Anthology of 211 poems by 137 poets, including Gwendolyn Brooks, John Ciardi, e.e. cummings, Roald Dahl, Robert Frost, Nikki Grimes, Russell Hoban, Langston Hughes, Karla Kushin, Myra Cohn Livingston, A.A. Milne, Ogden Nash, Carl Sandburg, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and Judith Viorst. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 1999.

by Bobbe Needham

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

Step-by-step directions for more than fifty projects using natural and recycled materials: a birch-bark basket, gourd birdhouse, log-cabin planter, recycling bin, and license-plate bird feeder, as well as special-prints gift wrap, sand candles, corn-husk angels, and beach-glass jewelry. Also presents background information on ecological and environmental issues. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Corrie James

1 cassette

Discusses the concept of time and its relationship to biological cycles, including phases of the moon, internal clocks of plants and animals, seasonal rhythms, and the aging process. Includes a glossary and a list of Internet resources. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Jean Fritz

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Provides background material on the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, and his reason for making a speech at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1863. Includes a copy of the text. For grades 2-4. 1993.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Discusses the anatomy of a tooth, brushing technique, and the role of a dentist in maintaining dental health. Also explains tooth decay--how it's caused and how to prevent it. For grades 3-6. 1999.

by Alvin Silverstein and others

read by Rick Foucheux

1 cassette

Discusses the nature and effects of allergies--different kinds, who gets them, how they develop, and how they are treated. Includes a glossary, a list of organizations, and online sites for more information. For grades 3-6. 1999.

by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson

read by Margaret Strom

1 cassette

Nineteen fun-to-make recipes for healthy dishes like bagel faces, green spaghetti, pretend soup (requires no cooking), muffins with a surprise inside, and pizza. Designed to help young children learn independence in cooking, under the guidance of an adult "partner." Includes safety tips. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers. 1994.

by Sally Hobart Alexander

read by Barbara Pinolini

1 cassette

A writer who went blind at age twenty-six answers questions that children have frequently asked during her visits to schools. She discusses reading, working with her guide dog, meeting her husband, and parenting her two children, as well as her reactions to being blind. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Carol Sonenklar

read by Carol Dines

1 cassette

Explores trends in the science of robotics. Describes the use of robots for such hazardous duties as disarming a murder suspect or evaluating damage to a nuclear reactor. Discusses the development of robots to function in space and medical programs, and even in sports competitions. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Dennis Brindell Fradin

read by Andy Chappell

1 cassette

Historical survey of theories about life on Mars, from ancient civilizations' perceptions to twentieth-century space exploration. Discusses evidence of canals and Percival Lowell's studies of them, discoveries made by the Mariner and Viking missions, and possibilities of future colonization by earthlings. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by David C. King

read by Don Feldheim

1 cassette

Basic information on this north African nation, land of the pharaohs and pyramids, covers geography and history; the people; family life, festivals, and food; school and recreation; and the arts. Country facts and a glossary are included. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Jack Prelutsky

read by Alexander Scourby

1 cassette (Reissue)

A collection of original punning poems including "Kermit Keene," "The Soggy Frog," and "The Seven Sneezes of Cecil Snedde." For grades 2-4 and older readers. 1982.

by Bonnie Bryant

read by Mimi Bederman

1 cassette

Horse-crazy Carole, Lisa, and Stevie are enjoying their ride on the annual overnight trip from Pine Hollow Stables. The only glitch is that wealthy and irresponsible Veronica won't listen to instructions. Her carelessness leads to tragedy. For grades 4-7. 1988.

retold by Una Leavy

read by Timothy Lynch

1 cassette

Ten traditional Irish stories about fairies, giants, heroes, good and evil, and love and tragedy. A young boy called Setanta proves his bravery when Culann's fierce dog attacks him and proves his honor by replacing the dog with his own service in "How Cúchulainn Got His Name." For grades 3-6. 1996.

by Diana Wynne Jones

read by Patricia Kilgarriff

3 cassettes

Mitt, who felt he had found refuge in North Dalemark, is ordered to kill Noreth Onesdaughter, a girl who aspires to rule Dalemark and reunite North and South. Instead, Mitt joins forces with her. This book contains a "Guide to Dalemark." Sequel to The Spellcoats (RC 48851). For grades 6-9. 1993.

by Charles Perrault

read by Susan McInerney

1 cassette

Eleven classic fairy tales: "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Bluebeard," "Puss-in-Boots," "The Fairies," "Cinderella," "Tufty Ricky," "Hop o' My Thumb," "Patient Griselda," "Donkeyskin," and "The Foolish Wishes." An afterword contains notes on Perrault and each story. New translation from French originals of 1697 and earlier. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1993.

by Mary Casanova

read by June Carter

1 cassette

Twelve-year-old Seth lives with his mother and game warden stepfather in the Minnesota woods. When the boy witnesses poachers shooting a cow moose, the men try to scare him into silence. Although terrified, Seth is determined to save the moose calf that escaped. Prequel to Wolf Shadows (RC 49323). For grades 4-7. 1995.

by Jack Gantos

read by Arnie Warren

1 cassette

In this prequel to Heads or Tails (RC 46344), Jack and his family move to Florida. Despite trying to be adult, Jack is accidentally involved in multiple cat deaths, worried that he is too obsessed with grossness, and forced by his angry sister to stand naked by the tracks. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Mary Jane Auch

read by Marilyn Gleason

1 cassette

In 1816 Mem, now twelve, and her family have settled in Genesee County in western New York. When Mem's mother has a baby, she falls into a depression, leaving Mem with the responsibility to care for her younger brother, Joshua, and the baby. Sequel to Journey to Nowhere (RC 47447). For grades 4-7. 1998.

by James Howe

read by June Carter

1 cassette

Harold, the canine author, describes the events that disrupted the Monroe household where he lives with Chester (a cat), Howie (a puppy), and Bunnicula (a rabbit with fangs). It all starts with Bunnicula looking listless, and Chester saying he has the matter under control. Companion to Return to Howliday Inn (RC 36904). For grades 3-6. 1999.

by Gregory Maguire

read by Phil Regensdorf

1 cassette

When three Florida classmates must find someone old enough to discuss World War II, they write to the artist Marcel Delarue, who grew up in France's Loire Valley. Marcel responds with tales of his childhood and the summer he and his brother befriended a German soldier. For grades 4-7. 1995.

by Mical Schneider

read by Constance Crawford

1 cassette

A story about traders traveling the Silk Road in the first century A.D. In central China Han Tzu prepares for his first trip as caravan leader to carry a wealthy merchant's goods and his own bolt of blue silk to sell in Parthia on the way to Rome. For grades 4-7. 1997.

by Lois Metzger

read by Constance Crawford

1 cassette

In 1967, eighth-grader Carrie is staying with her immigrant grandmother, Mutti, while her widowed father is away. Carrie finds her life empty, except when she's around the vivacious mother of her new friend, Mona. But Mona seems more impressed by what Carrie's mother and Mutti endured during World War II. For grades 6-9. 1999.

by David A. Adler

read by L.J. Ganser

1 cassette

In this sequel to Andy and Tamika (RC 49523), Andy is thrilled when his fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Roman, gets sick. Now he won't be picked on for daydreaming! But much to Andy's dismay, the substitute teacher blames him for pranks played by other students. A beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 1999.

by Bruce Coville

read by L.J. Ganser

1 cassette

In this sequel to The Search for Snout (RC 49529) BKR, the "cruelest being in the universe," stole Rod Allbright's body to get his brain. Which is why Rod's brain is secretly transferred to a one-eyed alien named Seymour. How will Rod and his dad recover his body? For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Susan Fletcher

read by Gabriella Cavallero

2 cassettes

Thirteen-year-old Marjan, a crippled Persian servant girl, is a gifted storyteller. Because of her talent, she is ordered to join the sultan's harem but soon escapes to search for the perfect story to melt the sultan's heart and to save the life of his wife, Shahrazad. For grades 5-8. 1998.

by Geraldine McCaughrean

read by Corrie James

1 cassette

Retellings of twenty-eight tales from all parts of the globe. Contains "Lamia" from India, "The Pied Piper" from Germany, "Isis and Osiris" from ancient Egypt, "Gull-Girl" from Siberia, "The Crystal Pool" from Melanesia, and "The Sky-Blue Storybox" from Ghana, among others. For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Doris Orgel

read by Kimberly Schraf

1 cassette

Three Greek immortals--Athena, goddess of wisdom; Aphrodite, goddess of love; and Hera, goddess of marriage--tell their own stories. The introduction provides background on the society and religion of ancient Greece. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999.

by Colby Rodowsky

read by Cyn Delafield

1 cassette

Eight-year-old Ellie has to give up her lifelong dream of having her own puppy because her parents agree to adopt great-aunt Margaret's dog. At first Ellie refuses to warm up to Preston, a smart and brave brown mutt, but gradually she comes to love him. For grades 2-4. 1999.

by Mary Lyn Ray

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette

A boy is eager to take up the family craft of basketry and walk down the mountain with his father to sell their wares. When he finally goes to town, the boy is humiliated by taunts that he and his father are bushwhackers with hillbilly baskets. For grades 2-4. 1999.

by Marnie Laird

read by Michael Scherer

1 cassette

Delaware Bay, 1748. Fourteen-year-old crippled orphan Matt "Water Rat" Burton works long hours for an abusive tavern owner. Then Matt goes to live on the Campbell family farm, where he uses his knowledge of the local waterways to uncover the secret hideout of marauding pirates. For grades 6-9. 1998.

by Mercer Mayer

read by MaryBeth Wise

1 cassette

The emperor's daughter, Shibumi, flies on a giant kite above the squalid city outside the palace in the hope of persuading her father to improve his people's living conditions. But the decision is not just between her and her father, and Shibumi risks never seeing her father again. For grades 2-4. 1999.

by Philip Pullman

read by David Cutler

1 cassette

At the same time that a prince announces his marriage (to a mysterious girl), a young boy appears at an elderly couple's house. They take him in, but when they question him about his past, he says only, "I was a rat!" For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

read by Margaret Strom

1 cassette

Growing up in Indiana during World War I, ten-year-old Mallie is frustrated with her life as an identical twin to her sister Hallie. Mallie barters with gypsies for some dye to change her matching new dress--but with disastrous results. Companion to Ruthie's Gift (RC 46625). For grades 3-6. 1999.

by Dan Gutman

read by Erik Sandvold

1 cassette

In this sequel to Jackie and Me (RC 49916), Joe Stoshack takes his father with him when he time travels back to 1932 to watch a historic moment in Babe Ruth's career. Babe supposedly "called the shot" by pointing to where his home-run hit would land. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Gail Carson Levine

read by Ray Hagen

2 cassettes

When his father dies and none of his relatives will take him in, Dave goes to live at the HHB--the Hebrew Home for Boys. To escape the cruel treatment he receives there, he sneaks out at night and discovers real friends in the cultural world of the Harlem Renaissance. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Avi

read by Kimberly Schraf

1 cassette

After bidding fond farewells to his family, Ragweed, a four-month-old golden mouse, strikes out to explore the world beyond his home at the brook. Eager for excitement and unmindful of cats, Ragweed hops a freight train to the city. Prequel to Poppy (RC 42709). For grades 3-6. 1999.

by James Marshall

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

This single volume contains all seven of Marshall's books--thirty-five stories--about two hippopotamuses, George and Martha. By sharing their humorous adventures and forgiving each other's failings, George and Martha demonstrate how to be true friends. For grades 2-4. 1988.

by Dav Pilkey

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Two mischievous fourth graders, George and Harold, enjoy writing their own comic books about superhero Captain Underpants, who flies around in his underwear. Then one day they hypnotize their principal into thinking that he is Captain Underpants, and they have some amazing adventures with him. For grades 2-4. 1997.

retold by Jane Louise Curry

read by Michael Scherer

1 cassette

Collection of twenty-seven tales with an introduction to Algonquian Indian culture; describes variations among the group's numerous tribes, which are found in the eastern United States and Canada. The title story recounts how a turtle's back became the Earth's foundation after a great flood. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Barbara O'Connor

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

Eleven-year-old Jennalee escapes from her hectic family life by spending time with the general-store owner, "Uncle Beau." She is astonished and hurt when a black man named Rupert Goody, who claims to be the son of white Uncle Beau, appears to be taking her place. For grades 4-7. 1999.

by Hans Christian Andersen

read by Corrie James

1 cassette

The adventures of Thumbeline, a tiny little girl so named because she is the size of a person's thumb. After dangerous encounters with a toad, a mole, and other field animals, she is rescued by a friendly swallow. He flies her south, where she meets a little prince in a flower. For grades K-3. 1985.

by Diane Stanley

read by Ann Hodapp

2 cassettes

At thirteen, Ginny is abruptly sent to her divorced father's home in England while her mother undergoes cancer treatment in Houston. Ginny is shocked to realize that her anthropologist father and others are living as an Iron Age community, cut off from the world. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1999.

by John D. Fitzgerald

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette (Reissue)

Adenville, Utah; 1896. Eleven-year-old Tom, known as "the Great Brain" because of his ingenious schemes, terrorizes the entire town when he plants fake dinosaur tracks from Skeleton Cave to the river. For grades 4-7. 1969.

by John D. Fitzgerald

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette (Reissue)

Tom Fitzgerald, known as "the Great Brain," has swindled practically every kid in Adenville, Utah. But he also uses his brain power to rescue two friends from death in a cave and to teach a Greek boy how to fight off the neighborhood bully. For grades 4-7. 1967.

by Jean Fritz

read by Terence Aselford

1 cassette (Reissue)

Young George W. Allen, who shares both the name and birthday of the first president, is determined to find out what his namesake ate for breakfast. His search takes him to the library, to the attic, and to Mount Vernon. For grades 2-4. 1969.

by Matt Christopher

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Daren, a star basketball player, blames everyone else when something goes wrong. When he bad-mouths one of his teammates, however, he has gone too far and caused problems with morale. Can he learn to accept defeat, or will he be forced to leave the team? For grades 4-7. 1998.

by Gary D. Schmidt

read by Anne Flosnik

1 cassette

Following family tradition, young Englishman Anson Staplyton proudly enlists as a drummer boy under the command of his father, who leads peacekeeping troops in Ireland for King George II. But Anson is soon shocked by the atrocities committed against the peasants and must choose between his conscience and his king. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Susan Cooper

read by Brian Conn

2 cassettes (Reissue)

Will Stanton, eleven, learns that he is the last of the Old Ones--immortals dedicated to controlling the forces of evil. Will's quest is to find the Signs of Light to defeat the Dark. Sequel to Over Sea, under Stone (RC 45567). For grades 4-7 and older readers. Newbery Honor. 1973.

by Susan Cooper

read by Brian Conn

1 cassette (Reissue)

Despite the dangers, the Drew children and Will Stanton must retrieve the golden grail that the forces of the Dark have stolen. And Jane Drew receives a strange gift from the Greenwitch after witnessing a nightlong ceremony. Sequel to The Dark Is Rising (RC 50256). For grades 4-7 and older readers. 1974.

by James Howe

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Pinky loves his large collection of stuffed animals and the color pink. His best friend, Rex, adores her equally large collection of dinosaurs. When they go to the museum, they both want to buy a pink dinosaur--but there is only one. Easy chapter book. For grades K-3. 1990.

by James Howe

read by Rick Rohan

1 cassette

Excited about holding on to his position as the best speller in the second grade, Pinky does something embarrassing. His best friend, Rex, who had her own spelling embarrassment, manages to cheer him up. Easy chapter book. For grades K-3. 1991.

by Tomie dePaola

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

Jamie O'Rourke is the laziest man in all of Ireland. When his wife visits her sister for a week, she leaves Jamie plenty of food and a clean house. Then his friends come visiting and leave a mess behind. Jamie gets some help from an unexpected source. For grades K-3. 2000.

by Mindy Warshaw Skolsky

read by Laura Giannarelli

1 cassette

When Hannah goes to visit her grandparents in the Bronx, she chooses a new whistling teakettle for a gift because her grandmother doesn't like fun gifts--only necessities. But her grandmother is not persuaded to keep it until two robbers enter her shop. For grades K-3. 2000.

by William Steig

read by Bob Askey

1 cassette (Reissue)

Frightened by an approaching lion, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock. But, then, Sylvester is unable to grasp the pebble and wish himself back to normal. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal. 1969.

by Cari Best

read by Suzanne Toren

1 cassette

Sara's Russian grandmother will soon celebrate her birthday, but she has asked for no presents. Sara's mother explains that sometimes the best gifts come from the heart. It takes Sara a whole week to decide what to give her grandmother. For grades K-3. 1999.

by Audrey Couloumbis

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette

Still reeling from the sudden death of their baby sister, Willa Jo and JoAnn (called "Little Sister") are whisked away to an aunt's house while their mother, Noreen, recovers from depression. Unhappy with Aunt Patty's bossy ways, Willa Jo and the now mute Little Sister retreat to the roof. For grades 5-8. 1999.

by Elisa Carbone

read by Jill Fox

1 cassette

In this sequel to Starting School with an Enemy (RC 49882), Sarah from Maine and her friend Christina from El Salvador welcome Olivia from Trinidad into their Maryland neighborhood. All three ten-year-olds face different problems involving mistaken identity, which they help one another solve. For grades 4-7. 2000.

by Joan Aiken

read by Kristin Allison

1 cassette (Reissue)

Dido Twite, a girl from the London streets, awakens from a ten-month coma to find herself aboard a Nantucket whaling ship. Strange events unfold as she discovers that the captain is chasing a pink whale and there is a plot to blow up the king's palace in London. For grades 4-7. 1966.

por Esmeralda Santiago

leído por María Pino

3 cassettes

La autora de Cuando Era Puertorriqueña (RC 40892) continúa su autobiografía sobre la llegada a la mayoría de edad y sobre su vida como inmigrante puertorriqueña en Nueva York. En camino de hacerse mujer, Santiago logra un equilibrio entre ser puertorriqueña y ser norteamericana. [The author continues her coming-of-age autobiography as a Puerto Rican immigrant in New York City. As she grows into a young woman, she honors her Puerto Rican background while embracing her new life in America. Sequel to Cuando Era Puertorriqueña (RC 40892).] 1999.

por Rosario Ferré

leído por Juan Ramírez

4 cassettes

En Puerto Rico del siglo XX, Isabel se ocupa escribiendo la crónica de su familia y de su matrimonio. Su esposo descubre el manuscrito y decide contraestarlo escribiendo su propria versión de la historia. Las dos narraciones pintan un cuadro de conflictos políticos, de disputas de poder, y de machismo y racismo que hacen luchar la familia entre sí. (In twentieth-century Puerto Rico, Isabel is writing a novel that depicts her marriage and the family history. Her husband, angered at her account, adds his version of events. The combined stories reveal political conflicts, power struggles, racism, and sexism that pit family members against one another.) 1996.

por Rosario Ferré

leído por María Pino

3 cassettes

La joven Elvira Vernet vive en Puerto Rico durante los años 1940 y 1950 donde es téstigo de las passiones que pasan entre la familia maternal y la familia paternal. La madre de ella, de la familia Santillana, era parte de la clase culta adinerada, mientras la familia de su padre eran hacendados ambiciosos que anhelaban la aceptación social. (Three generations of love-hate relationships between the Santillanas and the Vernets, viewed by young Elvira Vernet in 1940s and 1950s Puerto Rico. Her mother, a Santillana, was part of the privileged landed gentry, while her paternal relatives, the Vernets, were politically ambitious farmers struggling for social acceptance.) 1998.

por Eileen Wilkes

leído por Juan Ramírez

1 cassette

Chase McGuire quiere seducir a su guapa jefa, Summer Callaway, y ella también se enamora de él. Sin embargo, Chase es un vaquero aventurero que no se quedaba demasiado tiempo en ninguna parte, y Summer sabe que será difícil lograr un compromiso a largo plazo con él. (Chase McGuire is attracted to his beautiful boss, Summer Callaway, and she also falls for Chase. But he is a modern cowboy who does not let any grass grow under his feet, and Summer knows it will be a tough job getting a long-term commitment out of him.) 1997.

por Adolfo Bioy Casares

leído por Juan Ramírez

2 cassettes

Muchas veces, el amor da al descontento y a veces da a la locura, al suicidio, y hasta al asesinato. A veces el amor produce malas consecuencias políticas. Sin embargo, la gente no se para en busca de amor. El autor argentino ofrece dieciocho cuentos que ilustran lo que los protagonistas hacen por el amor, aun cuando el resultado sea cruel e irónico. (Love often leads to unhappiness and sometimes to insanity, suicide, and murder. Occasionally love has dire political consequences. Yet people never stop seeking love. These eighteen stories by the Argentinian writer illustrate the extremes to which people will go for love or because of love, even when the results are cruel and ironic.) 1972.

recontado por by Lulu Delacre

leído por Juan Ramírez

1 cassette

Presentan doce cuentos adaptados del folklore indígena de América Latina. Incluyen cuentos que remontan a los Tainos del Caribe, los Zapotecas de México, los Muiscas de Colombia, y los Incas del Perú y de Bolivia. Para grados 4 a 7 y lectores mayores. (Twelve stories adapted from the Indian folklore of Latin America, including the Tainos of the Caribbean, the Zapotecs of Mexico, the Muiscas of Colombia, and the Incas of Peru and Bolivia. For grades 4-7 and older readers.) 1998.